Learco Guerra

Learco Guerra (14 October 1902 - 7 February 1963) was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia. He was born in San Nicolò Po, a frazione of Bagnolo San Vito in Lombardy, gained the nickname of "Human Locomotive" for his enduring quality in plain stages. After mediocre attempts to play football, Guerra became a professional cyclist in 1928, at 26. The following year he became Italian champion, racing as an independent or semi-professional.

Learco Guerra

Personal information
Full name	Learco Guerra
Nickname	Human Locomotive
Born	(1902-10-14)14 October 1902 Bagnolo San Vito, Italy
Died	7 February 1963(1963-02-07) (aged 60) Milan, Italy
Team information
Discipline	Road
Role	Rider
Professional teams
1928–1935	Maino–Dunlop
1936–1939	Legnano–Wolsit
1940	Dei/Legnano
1941–1944	Dei
Major wins
Grand Tours Tour de France 7 individual stages (1930, 1933) Giro d'Italia General classification (1934) 31 individual stages (1930-1937) One-day races and Classics World Road Race Championship (1931) National Road Race Championship (1930-1934) Milan–San Remo (1933) Giro di Lombardia (1934)
Medal record Men's road bicycle racing Representing  Italy World Championships 1931 Copenhagen Elite Men's Road Race 1930 Liège Elite Men's Road Race 1934 Leipzig Elite Men's Road Race

In 1930 he won his first Italian National Road Race Championships, the first of five straight wins. That same year he came second in the Tour de France after Italy's leader, Alfredo Binda, proved in poor form. The race was won by the Frenchman, André Leducq. In 1931 Guerra won four stages of the Giro d'Italia but not the final victory. In this Giro, he was the first rider who wore the pink jersey. The same year he won the world cycling championship.

In 1933 Guerra was again second in the Tour de France, and he won the Milan–San Remo. In 1934 came his greatest success, 10 stages of the Giro d'Italia and the general classification. He was also second in the world championship.

Guerra set a record of victories in a single year that was beaten only in the 1970s. His fame was exploited by the Fascist government, which profited from his heroic status.

After retirement, he worked as a team manager for riders such as Hugo Koblet and Charly Gaul.

Affected by Parkinson's disease, he died in Milan in 1963.