I've found my next bit of research and have attempted to get it ordered through an Italian university store. Giuseppe Pancera raced from 1925 to 1934 on such teams as Olympia-Pirelli, La Rafale and Dei-Pirelli. I've seen
a photo of him in a Bianchi jersey as well, but that's not listed on his
palmares on the same site. Other than his two Grand Tour second places (one in the Giro, one in the Tour), Pancera twice won the Coppa Bernocchi and won the 1927 Roma-Napoli-Roma, a race that has grown more interesting to me lately, knowing that the longest run was 475 kilometres! Sounds like I may need to head back and attempt my own R-N-R some day.
So, hopefully I'll be able to sit by the fire this winter and struggle through another book in a new language (yes, I sometimes consider written Italian my 'third' language!). I may add a few drops of Fernet to my espresso in homage to Pancera (rumor has it Girardengo drank it as well). Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of bitters OR liquorice, so a few drops may be all I can stomach!
