Road to Valor: A True Story of WWII Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation Paperback – June 11, 2013

I have read a few books on the Tour de France. How the Tour originated as a means to sell newspapers; and how the tour united disparate parts of France into one modern country. Where politics had failed to unite France, cycling's grand international event, Le Tour, had won. So many dynamics go into the Tour, from business sponsorships to political jockeying. Also, the Tour de France has catapulted cyclist that come from obscurity to rock star status; from being mere bakers to being demigods, in a single season. However, one thing I hadn't read or was privy to was the way the Tour had united other countries like Italy. I was aware of the competition between Coppi and Bartali during the golden era of cycling. As a cyclist enthusiast and some one vested in the sport on almost a daily level, I enjoyed the detail into Bartali's life, his training, his failures and his victories on the bike. Its fascinating how cherished and how reviled cycling stars can be on a flick of a switch.What wasn't know to me was the political climate of Italy during that era—the Mussolini era. To say that Italians were divide is an understatement. Nothing divides countries more than politics. Our country is experiencing that as we speak. After reading this book, I can no longer flippantly call people or politicians fascist. Italian fascism, the place of its origin, was particularity brutal. All Italians suffered under the strain of political fascism. The current political climate in the USA is nowhere close to Italy in the 30s and 40s. All Italy was under the dark shroud of fascism and in particular those who helped Jews escape or hide. The book mentions the value of human life at the time in Italy was trifle, especially if you were found aiding or abiding Jews. It was a capital crime to help Jews. It was a capital crime to be anti-Fascist, especially if you were vocal about it. The climate in WWII Italy was nefarious and dark. The war effort also brought bleakness and hunger to Italy. The fascist ideology was heavily vested into flexing its military muscles and expanding by military might which brought rationing and its evil twin sister, hunger.Gino Bartali, the international racing star and dandy of Italian cycling had a lot to lose. The way the book lays it out, although he wasn't vocal about his distaste for the Mussolini regime, Gino Bartali’s actions and silence spoke volumes. His close association to the Catholic church also stamped his loyalties; as these two Italian monoliths, Fascism and Catholicism, were in stark opposition to each other.I enjoyed learning about the how the Catholic church had taken on the mantle of saviors to the Jewish people. It's come as a pleasant surprise. During the worst years Italian Jews faced, the church came to the rescue, organized relief efforts, printed false documents and hid Jews both young and old in their convents or found people willing to do so. This is something that was new to me and although the Mussolini regime was brutal, nothing compares to Germany's involvement in the holocaust. That is also mentioned in the book — how Mussolini was imprisoned by Italians and how Germany's elite special forces, in a daring plot, helped him escape. I would have liked reading a chapter devoted to this German military exploit, which was integral to that period of time in Italy and the fate of Jews afterwards.If Italian jews felt the strangulation of their fates during the Mussolini years, it became much worse after Germany helped him escape his imprisonment. From then on, SS Germans and Black shirt Fascist Italians, were on the prowl looking for Jews and those involved in helping them escape. The ante was up, and Italian Jews were being hunted mercilessly, if captured, being sent straight to Auschwitz. It was about this time that Gino Bartali was approached to help the cause by his trusted confessor, Cardinal Della Costa. Though this isn’t mentioned in the book, Della Costa is a Converso Jewish surname. I wonder if his helping Jews stemmed from his Jewish past…Again, if found out, it came at a terrible price, especially as Germany is now involved in the day-to-day policing of Italy.I would have liked to know how many Jewish families Gino Bartali helped during the Italian war time effort. Unfortunately, each key player was kept in secrecy about who and how the underground organization was involved. However, I would have contacted Israel and made a call form inquiry for any Italian Jews that fled from Italy during that epoch. The authors didn’t expand on that and I feel its extremely important and satisfying to know the results of one’s labor; especially since its investigative writing.Though one thing that the book really unfolds is how political the Tour de France was and remains to date. Fascist ideology requires that their subjects are the best physical specimens to be lauded. Mussolini and Hitler needed that accolade and both invested heavily in sporting events, of course the precedent was to win. When Gino won the Tour in 1938 he became the darling of the Fascist regime—he became the poster boy if Italian superiority. When Bartali didn’t acknowledge Benito Mussolini or his regime, during his acceptance speech, his welcome back home was frigid. From that point he face scrutiny form his black shirted fascist country men. If he wasn’t such a super star, it wouldn’t have surprised anyone if he was found dead, as some of his lesser known colleagues were found when they disrespected Il Duce.Its because if his incredible fame that Gino Bartali escaped death or imprisonment and helped him be an integral part of Italy’s clandestine operations. The book, Road to Valor, is a great piece of information in the puzzle of WWII war time activities, especially as it relates to Italy. I would have liked to see it unfold into more comprehensive accounts of others who helped the cause, or those who survived because of Gino Bartali’s involvement. I binge read the book in about three days, it reads well and its action packed and inspiring. Overall, the book is a must read, especially if you’re a cyclist, study Jewish history, or are Italian. I can see this being adopted into a movie. Though there is one out there as we speak, its boring, I think this book if adopted well can be a great adventure of daring and honor. Gino, like most war veterans didn't like to talk about his exploits or his fears; this book helps uncover a true hero, not only to Italy, but to humanity. The Talmud states: Whoever destroys a soul [of Israel], it is considered as if he destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves a life of Israel, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.

Road to Valor is about the true story of Gino Bartali, a two time Tour de France champion who spent the WWII years transporting documents in connection with a Catholic Church organization to save Jewish refugees from Nazi occupiers and their Fascist collaborators.This is a very well researched work and consists really of two stories. One is the story of Gino Bartali's life, including his youth, his family life, and, of course, his bicycle racing activities. The other is about Italy both during Mussolini's reign and during the post war period.Gino Bartali's 1948 Tour victory is portrayed as having helped lift Italy out of its turmoil at the time, as there were riots between Communist and non-Communist factions at those years. Anyhow, a good read for cycling and Gino Bartali fans.

Road to Valor: The True Story of World War II in Italy, the Nazis, and the Cyclist Who Inspired a Nation is written by Aili and Andre McConnon. This is the true story of a little boy who is fascinated by bikes and later racing them. He went on to win the Tour de France in 1938 and then defended his title 10 years later. It is also the story of one of Yad Vashem’s Righteous Gentiles for his heroic work on behalf of the Jews in Italy during World War II.Gino Bartili and his brother Guido grew up I rural Tuscany where once they were old enough, spent their free time racing their bicycles up and down the nearby hills. Every time, one of the Bartali won the races. Gino wanted to enter the big races; but his Father was against it for fear of his son getting hurt on the very rough roads they were racing on. Finally, he relented and the boys began playing and winning their races. Unfortunately, their Father’s fear of a tragic accident came true, although it was Guido who was killed. Gino, who felt guilty for getting Guido interested in racing, felt guilty for Gino’s death the rest of his life.Gino had the desire to win the Guio d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same time. This was not to be. He won the Tour de France in 1938 but then World War II interfered in facing. During the war, Gino did his time in the Italian Army and then went to work in a bicycle shop. One day his friend, a priest, came and asked him to join him in a resistance program. Using his need to continue practicing his racing, he took orders for false iD’s to a forger and picked up the ID’s and brought them back. He used his hollow bike to hide the papers in and used his practice time to move the papers.After the war, he used his contacts to revive the racing circuit in Italy. Once more he set his sights on the Giro and the Tour. Although his racing career was interrupted for ten years, he managed to find the fortitude to bring his racing power back and win the Tour de France in 1948. At that time, he became a hero because with the country following his race, they avoided a rebellion.In 2013, his actions during World War II were honored by Yad Vashem when they honored him with the title of Righteous Among the Nations.

A very well written book about a truly remarkable person. Bartali was one of the outstanding cyclists of all time and his rivalry with Coppi is the stuff of legend. Through this book I also learnt about the man himself. What a hero! The courage he showed to help save lives shows the character of the man. The book is clearly well researched and tells his story in a clear factual way without the over sentimental nature of other publications. Bartali is brought to life in this book and Aili deserves considerable credit for this biography.

This was a well-written and well-researched book about a little known personality in cycling. More importantly from a historical standpoint, it's also the history of an individual and colleagues who made a real difference during WWII and a wonderful description of an a bygone era.I highly recommend it.

Attenta ricostruzione storica del ciclismo nel periodo a cavallo della seconda guerra mondiale. Emerge la grande statura morale oltre che sportiva di Gino Bartali

Road to Valour was such an eye-opener even for someone familiar with the history of Italy during the Second World War that it kept surprising me right until the last page. Although Bartoli is a well-known and revered figure to most Italians, his secret exploits during the war are just being uncovered now. To Canadians, for whom his historic victories at the Tour de France and at the Giro d'Italia are not known, he is truly a heroic figure for more than one reason and displayed uncommon courage and resolve. The writing by Aili and Andres McConnon is compelling and spell-binding and leaves you breathless with every chapter. Beautifully and painstakingly researched Road to Valour is a gem not to be missed.

The book reflects good research and is well written. There is a lot of history attached to this human interest story. Professional sport is only entertainment. Rarely absent of influence from the promoters and owners. Occasionally the entertainment becomes subordinate to more important issues. South African rugby comes to mind. This story is another example. My rating is missing a star because the global citizen is left on the outside as the authors tell the story to an American audience. The authors try to give an international flavor by leaving some quotes in Italian and French with translations to help the intended audience. They could go further. An example to illustrate this; the book uses the imperial system of measures. Using the metric system would improve the book in three ways. First is improved authenticity. (Bartali described one of his rides to Niccacci using kilometers.) Second, it would give the global reader a clear vision of the distance travelled, heights climbed and adjustments to the equipment. And lastly, it would open the intended audience to the world. Overall, the book is well done. Glad I invested the time into this read.