ALFONSINA STRADA

"As long as there is someone who sees what I see and feels what I feel, then the fire inside me lives on in the numerous cyclists: boys, girls, men and women."

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Alfonsina’s parents always worried about her speed whilst cycling. They hoped she would finally surrender the apparently absurd idea of becoming a cyclist post her marriage. However, her husband recognized her fearless spirit and gifted her a racing bike on their wedding day.

She was so fierce that only a few years later, she entered the Giro d’Italia: one of the toughest races of the world. No other woman had ever attempted it before. People laughed and ridiculed her, “She’ll never make it!” The race was long and strenuous, with 21-day-long stages along some of the steepest mountain roads around Europe. Of the 90 cyclists who started out, only 30 made it across the finish line. Despite the hate and discouragement along the way, Alfonsina was one of them. The next year the officials banned her from competing, claiming, “Giro d’Italia is a men’s race only”, but she was too determined to stop.

She raced, setting a speed record that stood for 26 years, although she rode a 44-pound, 1-gear bike! Female cyclists, who now participate in a much more popular and appreciated sport in the Olympic Games, still aspire to have her endurance and perseverance.