A Champion Cyclist Against the Nazis by Alberto Toscano;

Author:Alberto Toscano;
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: History / Military / World war II
Publisher: Casemate Publishers & Book Distributors, LLC
Published: 2020-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

9. Gino the Just

Between autumn 1943 and summer 1944, Gino Bartali lived with Adriana and their son Andrea either in Florence or in country houses near to the Tuscan capital. He changed homes in order to stay in the shadows and reduce the risk of being identified as much as possible. He also wanted to protect himself from the curious eyes of the enemies and their informers, as well as from the bombing from ‘friendly’ planes (the Americans and British particularly targeted railway stations). Civilian casualties were high: 215 were killed during a single bombing raid on Florence, in what was the first of a long series, on 25 September 1943. Consequently, Gino began his humanitarian missions ‘riding’ on his bike.

During his meeting with Gino, the Archbishop of Florence, Elia Dalla Costa, insisted that he was one of the few people who could successfully fulfil the mission of being a ‘courier of freedom’ and be able to carry and hide the false identity papers that were needed to save hundreds of human lives. Gino knew that the metal bars of his racing bike were hollow inside. He also knew how to disassemble and reassemble them at full speed. After all, he’d worked as a bicycle repairer and it was hardly a difficult task for him. He could remove the saddle and seat post, fill the seat tube and other usable parts with documents, put it all back together in a few moments and start pedalling as if nothing had happened. He had to consider the risks for himself and his family: if something happened to him, Adriana and little Andrea would be alone in the middle of the storm. But how many people would die if he refused the cardinal’s offer? Dozens, maybe hundreds. Gino spent a night praying before he accepted. He would lead his fight against Nazi barbarism by cycling between the different towns of central and northern Italy. He pedalled for months, driven by the knowledge that he was doing his duty as a man and by the hope that no one would ever believe that papers were hidden inside the metal framework of his bicycle. He won the bet. None of the German and fascist soldiers who confronted him on the roads of an Italy devastated by war would have imagined the key to his secret. By grinding out thousands of miles, Gino would certainly do everything he could to be recognised as the Great Bartali. It was all part of his plan. As a champion road cyclist, he was able to use the excuse that he was training. He was easily recognisable and Italians everywhere knew what he looked like. What’s more, on his travels he often wore a shirt with the name ‘Bartali’ written on it in very large lettering: if someone didn’t recognise his face, then they’d be able to read his name.

The plan conceived by the ‘network of the two religions’ was now clear. Men, women and children who were at risk

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