Aurelio Cestari

Antonio Cestari was a solid amateur cyclist who soon became a leader of the Italian team at many important races, such as the Peace Race (Friedensfahrt), and in 1956 winning the Tour of Slovakia (Okolo Slovenska) and the Italian Gran Premio Liberazione. He was on the Azzurri team at the Melbourne Games where he rode well, alongside Arnaldo Pambianco and Dino Bruni, working for their teammate, Ercole Baldini, who won the road race gold.

At the end of the Melbourne Games Cestari turned professional from 1957-63, riding with Mondia-Lygie, Atala-Pirelli, Ignis Varese, and Pasta Gazzola Mondovì. In his first year as a pro he won the Giro dell’Appennino, was runner-up in the Coppa Agostoni, and placed third at the Giro di Lombardia. In the following years he was mainly a domestique for stars like Baldini and Charly Gaul, although he had a few good places at the Giro d’Italia, with a best result of 23rd in 1960. He twice rode the Tour de France, placing 38th in 1959 and 41st in 1962.