Legends - Fausto Coppi

Angelo Fausto Coppi, (15 September 1919, Castellania, Province of Alessandria – 2 January 1960, Tortona, Province of Alessandria), was the dominant international cyclist of the years each side of the Second World War. His successes earned him the title Il Campionissimo, or champion of champions. He was an all-round racing cyclist: he excelled in both climbing and time trialing, and was also a great sprinter. He won the Giro d'Italia five times (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), the Tour de France twice (1949 and 1952), and the World Championship in 1953. Other notable results include winning the Giro di Lombardia five times, the Milan – San Remo three times, as well as wins at Paris–Roubaix and La Flèche Wallonne and setting the hour record (45.798 km) in 1942. 

Source - wikipedia

Loving my retro cycling stuff at the minute, reading books, reading the net, these boys really put themselves through the mill, racing hard all year, non of this 'toning and training' for certain events, much respect to these past legends.  Coppi's humble upbringing on the farm and his obvious desire to succeed can not fail to inspire.