Following the end of World War II Finnish cyclist Paul Backman became the national road race champion in 1946. Two years later Backman was part of Finland’s delegation at the 1948 London Olympics where he competed in the road race, but did not finish. He had better success after the Games, winning the national team pursuit on the track in 1949 and 1950. Backman then finished second at the 1951 national road race to earn himself a place on the Olympic team for the 1952 Games in Helsinki. He competed in the road race but was one of a handful of riders who ended up being disqualified from the event. Backman was also a keen skier who took part in the Finnish cross-country skiing championships in 1949.
Finland