He found work with his uncle as an apprentice plasterer, but he and brother Primo spent their free time cycling.

He won his first race (though he was subsequently disqualified) and it was clear from the outset that he was immensely gifted as both time trialist and climber.

[3] Enticed by a 500 lire King of the Mountains prize on the Ghisallo climb, Binda rode from Nice to Milan in order to compete in the 1924 Tour of Lombardy.

He won the prize, finished fourth in the race, and was immediately offered a contract with the Legnano professional team.

As Girardengo's powers waned, Italians looked to Domenico Piemontesi to usurp Binda but, much like everyone else, he was hopelessly out of his depth against the fuoriclasse.

Rather he was simply in the business of winning bike races, and each time he defeated Guerra the Italian public's antipathy grew.

He won the title three times in 1927, 1930 and 1932 (a record later equalled by Rik Van Steenbergen, Eddy Merckx, Óscar Freire and Peter Sagan).