The youngest Giro-stage winner ever, Olimpio Bizzi (1916-1976) was active as professional cyclist between 1936 and 1952. Practically, he was racing in the shadow of the greatest generation of Italian cyclists, including Learco Guerra, Gino Bartali, Fausto Coppi, or Giorenzo Magni
Nevertheless, Bizzi had his own successes during his career. Besides some minor one-day race victories, like Giro della Toscana (1937 and 1943), Tre Valli Varesine (1937 and 1939) Milano-Mantova (1939 and 1940),Giro di Campania (1941)
he managed to win a total of 13 stages at Giro d’Italia.
From nine participations he completed the race five times. His best result in the general classification was a 11th place in 1939.
In 1936 only Italian riders competed at the Giro d’Italia after the international condemnation of Italy ‘s conquest in Ethiopia. (Note, this was the year, when neither Germans nor Italian teams rode Tour de France.) Focusing only the world of road cycling, this was the first edition after Alfredo Binda’s retirement, the last Giro for Costante Girardengo, and the first overal victory for Gino Bartali, after winning the mountain competition at his first Giro in previous year.
Bizzi, a newbie, won the 243 km long 8th stage between Bari and Campobasso.