Alfonsina Morini was the only women to ride in the men’s Giro d’Italia in 1924.
She competed in races against both men and women, and in 1911 broke the women’s speed record, previously set in 1905. Her record stood for 26 years at 37 kilometers per hour (23 mph) and she did it on a 44 pound single geared bike. The first major race that she competed in was the 1917 Giro di Lombardia, with a course of 204 Kilometers, with 74 entries and 32 finishers, Alfonsina finished 32th on the final GC. In 1938 she won the female speed record at Longchamp, riding 35.28 kph.
grrrl + bike 