The 42 year old had both legs amputated following an awful accident in Germany in 2001 while he was racing in the Champ Car Series. He returned to racing after just two years in a specially adapted race car and has most recently been competing  in the World Touring Car Championships where he drives for the BMW Italy-Spain team.

This year he has also taken up hand cycling in earnest, having competed in the 2007 New York marathon where he finished fourth, Zinardi has set his mind on a place in the Italian hand cycling team and has recently been in Italy for the Para-Cycling Road World Championships.

He came 15th in the individual time trial, only one place below his Italian compatriot and rival Giovanni Achenza as he continues towards his dream of competing in London in 2012.