Homer Hickman is a writer of historical fiction books.
Gaetano Belloni -LRB- 26 August 1892 -- 9 January 1980 -RRB- was an Italian professional road racing cyclist .. Italian. Italy. road racing cyclist. road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his overall win in the 1920 Giro d'Italia , the two victories in Milan -- San Remo -LRB- 1917 and 1920 -RRB- , and the three victories in the Giro di Lombardia -LRB- 1915 , 1918 and 1928 -RRB- .. Giro d'Italia. Giro d'Italia. 1920 Giro d'Italia. Giro di Lombardia. Giro di Lombardia. Belloni was born at Pizzighettone , near Cremona , and made his debut in the road cycling world in the wake of his elder brother Amleto .. Pizzighettone. Pizzighettone. Cremona. Cremona. As an amateur , in 1914 he won the `` Small '' Giro di Lombardia and the Coppa del Re , as well as the Italian championship .. Giro di Lombardia. Giro di Lombardia. Italian. Italy. amateur. amateur. Having avoided to be called to the front , Belloni won surprisingly , the overall Giro di Lombardia in 1915 -LRB- a feat he repeated in 1918 and 1928 -RRB- and the Milan -- San Remo of 1917 .. Giro di Lombardia. Giro di Lombardia. front. World War I. In 1920 he obtained his greatest victory , the Giro d'Italia .. Giro d'Italia. Giro d'Italia. 1920 Giro d'Italia. In the 1920s Belloni constantly rivalled with his friend Costante Girardengo , being almost always defeated and gaining for this reason the nickname of `` Eterno secondo '' -LRB- `` Eternal second '' -RRB- .. Costante Girardengo. Costante Girardengo. He won a total of 43 races as a professional , including 12 stages at Giro d'Italia .. Giro d'Italia. Giro d'Italia