Michele Orecchia

Born in Marseille, Michelle Orecchia’s first club was UCAT (Unione Ciclo Alpina Torino) where he enjoyed some good results. At the very first edition of the World Professional Road Race Championship at the Nürburgring in 1927, Orecchia took part despite being an amateur, and finished a creditable seventh, in a race won by fellow Italian Alfredo Binda. He won the bronze medal for being the third highest placed amateur, after Jean Aerts of Belgium and Rudolf Wolke of Germany. At the Olympics the following year, Orecchia was fourth in the team road race, but only 16th in the individual event, behind winner [Henry Hansen[() of Denmark.

Orecchia took part in the Giro d’Italia seven times between 1928-34 with an overall ninth place in 1929 being his best finish. However, his finest hour was on 17 July 1932 when he won the eighth stage from Montpellier to Marseille in the Tour de France.