Giovanni Battaglin
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battaglin is an Italian
professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1981
Giro d'Italia
. He also won the 1981 Vuelta a España
.
, province of Vicenza
. Battaglin won the 1972 Amateur Giro d’Italia and turned professional the following year with the Jollicermica team.
that began in Verviers in Belgium and was Battaglin’s debut in a grand tour. Battaglin immediately showed promise when he finished third on stage four ahead of Eddy Merckx
and José Manuel Fuente. By halfway through the race, Battaglin was sitting in second place overall behind Merckx but lost that placing to Felice Gimondi
. Still at the age of 21, the neo-pro astonished the cycling world by finishing third in the race. Battaglin would wear the maglia rosa for five days in the 1975 Giro d'Italia
as well as several stage wins and wins in smaller stage races. He also won the King of the Mountains jersey in the 1979 Tour de France
, even after he received a penalty for testing positive for doping. Battaglin finished third in the 1980 Giro d'Italia
.
The following year on the tenth stage mountain time trial of the 1981 Vuelta a España
which was on the long climb to Sierra Nevada, Battaglin won the stage and took over the leader’s jersey. The only threat to Battaglin’s lead was Pedro Muñoz. Battaglin and his Inoxpran team withstood the challenge from the Spanish and brought Battaglin to his first grand tour victory. Three days later after Battalin’s triumph in Spain on May 13, 1981, he began the 1981 Giro d'Italia
. On the 19th stage toward the end of the race, Battaglin won the stage to Mareo
and took the maglia rosa from Silvano Contini
. He withstood the final test – the final stage’s individual time trial to win the race in Verona ahead of Tommy Prim
. Battaglin was only the second rider after Eddy Merckx
to win the Vuelta-Giro double. In the space of one and a half months, Battaglin won two of the grand tours.
1972
1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1983
1984
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1981
1981 Giro d'Italia
The 1981 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 64th running of the race, was held from 13 May to 7 June 1981, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Giovanni Battaglin.-General classification:-Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
Giro d'Italia
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
. He also won the 1981 Vuelta a España
Vuelta a España
The Vuelta a España is a three-week road bicycle racing stage race that is one of the three "Grand Tours" of Europe and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar. The race lasts three weeks and attracts cyclists from around the world. The race is broken into day-long segments, called stages...
.
Early years
Battaglin was born in MarosticaMarostica
Marostica , is a town and comune in the province of Vicenza, Veneto, northern Italy. It is mostly famous for its living chess event and for the local cherry variety.-History:...
, province of Vicenza
Province of Vicenza
The Province of Vicenza is a province in the Veneto region of northern Italy. Its capital city is Vicenza.The province has an area of 2,723 km², and a total population of 840,000 . There are 121 comuni in the province...
. Battaglin won the 1972 Amateur Giro d’Italia and turned professional the following year with the Jollicermica team.
Professional career
The 1973 Giro d'Italia1973 Giro d'Italia
The 1973 Giro d'Italia was held from 18 May to 9 June 1973, starting from Verviers in Belgium. It was won by Eddy Merckx.This 56th edition covered 3,801 km at an average speed of 35.553 km/h, for a total of 20 stages.- General classification :...
that began in Verviers in Belgium and was Battaglin’s debut in a grand tour. Battaglin immediately showed promise when he finished third on stage four ahead of Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
and José Manuel Fuente. By halfway through the race, Battaglin was sitting in second place overall behind Merckx but lost that placing to Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi
Felice Gimondi is an Italian former professional racing cyclist.With his 1968 victory at the Vuelta a España, only three years after becoming a professional cyclist, Gimondi, nicknamed "The Phoenix", was the second cyclist to win all three Grand Tours of road cycling: Tour de France , Giro...
. Still at the age of 21, the neo-pro astonished the cycling world by finishing third in the race. Battaglin would wear the maglia rosa for five days in the 1975 Giro d'Italia
1975 Giro d'Italia
The 1975 Giro d'Italia, the 58th running of the race, was held from 17 May to 7 June 1975. It covered 3,933 km at an average speed of 35.266 km/h, for a total of 21 stages...
as well as several stage wins and wins in smaller stage races. He also won the King of the Mountains jersey in the 1979 Tour de France
1979 Tour de France
The 1979 Tour de France was the 66th Tour de France, taking place June 27 to July 22, 1979. The total race distance was 24 stages over 3765 km, with riders averaging 36.513 km/h. It was the only tour to finish at L'Alpe d'Huez twice. It was won by Bernard Hinault, who also won the points...
, even after he received a penalty for testing positive for doping. Battaglin finished third in the 1980 Giro d'Italia
1980 Giro d'Italia
The 1980 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 63rd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 8 June 1980. It covered a total of 4,025 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 35.897 km/h...
.
The following year on the tenth stage mountain time trial of the 1981 Vuelta a España
1981 Vuelta a España
The 36th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 21 to May 10, 1981...
which was on the long climb to Sierra Nevada, Battaglin won the stage and took over the leader’s jersey. The only threat to Battaglin’s lead was Pedro Muñoz. Battaglin and his Inoxpran team withstood the challenge from the Spanish and brought Battaglin to his first grand tour victory. Three days later after Battalin’s triumph in Spain on May 13, 1981, he began the 1981 Giro d'Italia
1981 Giro d'Italia
The 1981 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 64th running of the race, was held from 13 May to 7 June 1981, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Giovanni Battaglin.-General classification:-Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
. On the 19th stage toward the end of the race, Battaglin won the stage to Mareo
Mareo
Mareo is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 90 km northeast of Trento and about 50 km northeast of Bolzano .-Geography:...
and took the maglia rosa from Silvano Contini
Silvano Contini
Silvano Contini is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer.-Career:His main successes were the Liège–Bastogne–Liège of 1982, and the Grand prix du Midi Libre of 1985. He won Trofeo Baracchi in 1983 with Daniel Gisiger....
. He withstood the final test – the final stage’s individual time trial to win the race in Verona ahead of Tommy Prim
Tommy Prim
Tommy Prim was a professional cyclist who rode for the Italian Bianchi team between the years of 1980 and 1986...
. Battaglin was only the second rider after Eddy Merckx
Eddy Merckx
Edouard Louis Joseph, Baron Merckx , better known as Eddy Merckx, is a Belgian former professional cyclist. The French magazine Vélo called him "the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known." The American publication, VeloNews, called him the greatest and most successful cyclist of all...
to win the Vuelta-Giro double. In the space of one and a half months, Battaglin won two of the grand tours.
Retirement
Battaglin retired after the 1984 season. In 1982 Battaglin started a bicycle manufacturing business which he runs from Marostica, Italy. In 2002 the company sponsored the Ceramiche Panaria Fiordo squad.Palmarès
1971- Gran Premio Palio del Recioto
1972
- Giro d'Italia (amateurs)
1973
- Giro del LazioGiro del LazioThe Giro del Lazio is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the region of Lazio, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
1974
- Giro dell'AppenninoGiro dell'AppenninoThe Giro dell'Appennino is a semi classic European bicycle race held in the Apennine Mountains, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- Morrovalle
1975
- 2 stages in the Giro d'Italia1975 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1975 Giro d'Italia, the 58th running of the race, was held from 17 May to 7 June 1975. It covered 3,933 km at an average speed of 35.266 km/h, for a total of 21 stages...
- 1 stage in the Volta a Catalunya
- Giro di PugliaGiro di PugliaThe Giro di Puglia was a road bicycle racing stage race. It consisted of three or four stages. It was first held in 1972, but last took place in 1998....
(con 1 vittoria di tappa) - Coppa SabatiniCoppa SabatiniThe Coppa Sabatini is a late season road bicycle race held annually in Province of Pisa, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
1976
- 1 stage in the Tour de France1976 Tour de FranceThe 1976 Tour de France was the 63rd Tour de France, taking place June 24 to July 18, 1976. The total race distance was 22 stages over 4017 km, with riders averaging 34.518 km/h.It was won by mountain specialist Lucien Van Impe...
1977
- Carpineti
- Gran Premio di Montelupo
1978
- Coppa BernocchiCoppa BernocchiThe Coppa Bernocchi is an European bicycle race held in Legnano, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- Acicatena
- 3 stages in the Tour de SuisseTour de SuisseThe Tour de Suisse is a UCI World Tour stage race held annually in June. The race debuted in 1933 and has evolved in timing, duration and sponsorship. With the Critérium du Dauphiné, it is a proving ground for the Tour de France, and part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
1979
- Vuelta al País Vasco (and 2 stage victories)
- Giro della Provincia di Reggio Calabria
- 1 stage in the Tour de Suisse
- Coppa Agostoni
- Coppa PlacciCoppa PlacciThe Coppa Placci is a semi classic European bicycle race held between Imola, Italy and San Marino. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.HC event on the UCI Europe Tour....
- Trofeo MatteottiTrofeo MatteottiTrofeo Matteotti is a single-day road bicycle race held annually in Pescara, Italy. Since 2005, the race has been organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Europe Tour.-Winners:...
- Trofeo PantalicaTrofeo PantalicaThe Trofeo Pantalica was a professional road bicycle race held annually in Province of Syracuse, Italy. The last edition took place in 2003.-Winners:-External links:*...
- Col San Martino
1980
- 1 stage in the Giro d'Italia1980 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1980 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 63rd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 8 June 1980. It covered a total of 4,025 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 35.897 km/h...
- Milano–Torino
- Coppa Placci
- Zambana di Trento
- Milano–Vignola
1981
1 stage and overall classification in the Giro d'Italia1981 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1981 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 64th running of the race, was held from 13 May to 7 June 1981, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Giovanni Battaglin.-General classification:-Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
1 stage and overall classification in the Vuelta a España1981 Vuelta a EspañaThe 36th Vuelta a España , a long-distance bicycle stage race and one of the 3 grand tours, was held from April 21 to May 10, 1981...
1983
- Lariano
1984
- Col San Martino