Giro d'Italia
Encyclopedia
The Giro d'Italia (ˈdʒiːro diˈtaːlja; Tour of Italy), 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
(the others being the Tour de France
and the Vuelta a España
), and is part of the UCI World Ranking
calendar. It is the second most prominent stage race in the world (after the Tour), and along with the Tour and the Road World Cycling Championship
it makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling
.
. It began because of a competition between two newspapers, La Gazzetta dello Sport
and Corriere della Sera
. La Gazzetta dello Sporta wished to boost its circulation by holding a professional road race, like the Tour de France. Corriere della Sera wanted to increase its circulation by holding an organized car rally. On 7 August 1908 the newspaper's founder Eugenio Camillo Costamagna, director Armando Cougnet, and its editor Tullio Morgagni announced the inaugural Giro d'Italia to be held in 1909
. Corriere della Sera
offered a winners bonus of 3,000 lire.
On 13 May 1909 at 02:53 am 127 riders started the first Giro d'Italia, which took place from Loreto Place in Milan. The race was split into eight stages covering 2448 kilometres. A total of 49 riders finished, with Italian Luigi Ganna
winning the inaugural event. Ganna won three individual stages and the General Classification. Ganna received 5325 Lira
as a winner’s prize, with all riders in the classification receiving 300 lira (at the time the Giro's director received 150 lira a month salary).
), the ranking of the Giro was exclusively Italian. Regarding stage victories, Stage 2 of the 1910 Giro d'Italia
was the first to see a non-Italian win, Jean-Baptiste Dortignacq
, from France, was the first non-Italian to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia. In 1912
, the ranking was done by teams and again saw the Italians win, this time with team Atala (best team already in 1910
). Of the 107 stages of the first 11 routes, 102 of the stages were won by Italian riders. It was in 1919
, when the first non-Italian made it on to the podium in the Giro. A Belgian, Marcel Buysse
, placed third overall in the General Classification in the 1919 edition of the Giro. Two firsts also occurred during this period: in 1911 Carlo Galetti
became the first rider to win two consecutive Giros. Galetti won the Giro d'Italia in 1910
and 1911
. Galetti was also a member of Team Atala, when the won the Giro d'Italia in 1912. The 1911 Giro d'Italia was the first Giro d'Italia to not start or finish in Milan
. Rome was given the privilege to host the start and finish of the Giro, in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the unification of Italy.
, won his first Giro d'Italia in 1925
. Binda won the sixth stage of the 1925 Giro when he was only 23 years old. The following year, 1926
, Binda won six stages out of the twelve possible, but he ended up losing to Giovanni Brunero
. Brunero placed third overall in the 1925 Giro. By winning the 1926 edition of the race, Brunero became the first rider to win three Giro d'Italias.
Alfredo Binda took his revenge by winning the 1927 Giro
. He dominated the field by winning twelve out of the fifteen stages that composed the race that year. Binda's record of twelve stage wins in a single Giro d'Italia is still intact to this day. Giovanni Brunero claimed second place overall, finishing the Giro more than 27 minutes behind Binda. As Costante Girardengo
did in 1919
, Binda was the leader of the Giro d'Italia from the first stage to the last stage of the race. Binda also won the first Men's Road Race at the 1927 Road World Championships
and the Giro d'Italia in the same year.
In 1928
Alfredo Binda was untouchable and won his third edition of the Giro. That victory tied him with Giovanni Brunero
for the most overall victories of the Giro d'Italia, each had three tour victories to their name. Binda won six out of the twelve stages that composed the race. The eighth stage was won by his brother, and teammate, Albino Binda. The 1928 edition of the Giro d'Italia was also the one that gathered the largest number of participants, 298 started the race. The following year, 1929
, Binda became the first rider to win his fourth Giro d'Italias. During the 1929 Giro, Binda won a total of eight consecutive stages en route to his fourth overall victory. Domenico Piemontesi
finished second overall that year, with almost four more minutes of racing than Binda. Three other riders finished with a total time within ten minutes of Binda's.
In 1930
, the race organizers paid Alfredo Binda
, winner of three consecutive Giro d'Italias, 22,500 lire to not participate in the race. Binda accepted the race organizers' offer and did not compete. Luigi Marchisio
took advantage of Binda's absence and won the Giro. By winning, he became the youngest rider to ever win the Giro d'Italia. Marchisio was 21 years old when he won the 1930 Giro d'Italia. His record was later eclipsed by the winner of the 1940 Giro d'Italia
, Fausto Coppi
. Binda consoled himself that year by winning his second title of World Champion and two stages in the 1930 Tour de France
.
He returned to 1931
for the 20th edition of the Giro. This edition was particularly marked by the appearance of pink jersey (Maglia rosa) that is given to the overall leader. Its colour was the same as the newspaper that sponsored the race, La Gazzetta dello Sport
. The Italian Learco Guerra
, winner of the 1st stage of the Giro was the first to wear it. Guerra won a total of four stages in the 1931 Giro d'Italia. For his return on Italian roads, Alfredo Binda
won and took the pink jersey by winning the third and fourth stages. Binda lost the pink jersey after the end of the sixth stage. Binda suffered a fall in the vicinity of Racecourse Villa Glori in Stage 7, that linked Rome and Perugia. The injuries sustained from the crash forced him to abandon the day after. Francesco Camusso
, the winner of the eleventh stage, became the first rider in history to wear the Giro's pink jersey in Milan.
The 1932 Giro
was a disappointment for Binda
. He finished in seventh place overall, finishing 19 minutes behind the winner, Antonio Pesenti
, winner of the event, which ends at 4 instead of the 1932 Tour de France
the same year. Hermann Buse
, winner of the second stage became the first non-Italian to take the pink jersey, he lost it after the seventh stage to Pesenti
.
1933
marked a turning point for the Giro with the appearance of King of the Mountains Classification
and the first individual time trial
(ITT). The first individual time trial took place on the thirteenth stage, between Bologna
and Ferrara
at a distance of 62 km long. The time trial was won by Alfredo Binda. In addition, the Giro consisted of seventeen stages, it typically was composed of twelve stages per Giro, closing in the format "Grand Tour
" today. Unlike the previous year, the Giro was dominated again by Alfredo Binda, who returned to top form by winning the overall, King of the Mountains Classification
, and six stages from 13 days in rose. This victory was Binda's fifth overall victory of the Giro d'Italia, a record that still stands today. His record of five victories has since been reached by Eddy Merckx
and Fausto Coppi
.
Alfredo Binda returned a favorite to the 1934 Giro d'Italia
, but again, he was forced to withdraw due to injuries sustained from a crash. This time Binda was forced to retire during the sixth stage after a nasty fall. Binda was wounded by a pedal on his bicycle and he was then hit by a motorcycle Police. This 22nd edition was dominated by Learco Guerra
called the locomotive won the General Classification, along with ten of the seventeen stages that made up the 1934 Giro d'Italia. However, Francesco Camusso
finished second just 51 seconds behind Guerra. Camusso lost the pink jersey during the fourteenth stage, which was an individual time trial.
The 1935 Giro d'Italia
was the last for Alfredo Binda
at the age of 32 years. This Giro was also the first Giro d'Italia for twenty year old, Gino Bartali
, who would soon make a big name for himself in the world of cycling. Binda finished the Giro in sixteenth place, finishing 31 minutes behind the winner, Vasco Bergamaschi
. Bergamaschi won two stages en route to his overall victory. The young Bartali won the sixth stage and the King of the Mountains Classification
. The succession of Binda remains to establish the approach of the edition of 1936
. Binda would go down in history as the Giro's first rider to win five Giro d'Italia's (a record since equaled but never broken), and also by winning 41 stages of the Giro. Mario Cipollini
has been the only one to surpass Binda's record of 41 stage wins, Cipollini won a record total of 42 stage wins of the Giro during his career.
In 1936
, the hierarchy had to be rebuilt, after the departure of Alfredo Binda
. Learco Guerra
winner of the 1934
edition, abandoned the race after breaking his arm. Gino Bartali
won a total of three stages to help secure his victory in the 1936 Giro. Bartali won at age of 21, his first Giro d'Italia and his second King of the Mountains Classification
in a row.
Bartali
repeated by winning both classifications in the 1937 Giro d'Italia
. The 1937 Giro d'Italia was the first composed of 23 stages for a total of 3840 km and the first to use the roads of the Dolomite
which made the reputation of the Giro, the Passo di Costalunga and Passo Rolle. Gino Bartali
crossed in front and won the big mountain stage of the Dolomite
.
The following year, 1938
, Bartali did not participate in the Giro, in order to focus on Tour de France
. A fellow Italian, Giovanni Valetti
, won the Giro in 1938.
In the 1939 Giro d'Italia
, Gino Bartali
and Giovanni Valetti
competed on the road. Both riders won a total of four stages. Valetti won the Giro by winning a critical Stage 16. The decisive stage victory gave him the lead and the pink jersey. The climbs of the Passo Pordoi and Falzarego are also emerged in mind, both climbed by Bartali
100.
In 1940
Bartali
surrounded himself in his team Legnano, containing a young 20 year old Italian, Fausto Coppi
. Coppi took advantage of the fall of his team leader, Bartali, by showing his power and shining in the eleventh stage. Coppi's performance on the stage informed the general public of his ability. Coppi made the difference over his rivals, on the rise of Abletone and after 100 km the stage win moved allowed him to take the pink jersey. Despite two stage wins in Stage 17 and 19, Bartali was not able to retake the lead. With Coppi taking the overall victory, Bartali consoled himself by winning the King of the Mountains Classification
.
World War II interrupted the running of the Giro d'Italia between the years of 1941 and 1945, thus curbing the ambitions of Gino Bartali
to equal the record number of victories by Alfredo Binda
. Fausto Coppi
was mobilized on the forehead, in Tunisia, and Bartali moved to Vatican
alongside Pope Pius XII.
After 5 years of waiting, the Giro resumed in 1946
, on the roads that were devastated by war. The Coppi-Bartali Rivalry divided Italy: the first, known as Gino the Pious, was the favorite of the Christian Democrats
while the latter, Coppi, was revered by the left and progressives. The epic duel saw the victory of Bartali with only 47 seconds ahead of his rival, Coppi. This edition of the Giro d'Italia was also marked by clashes between activists in favor of the annexation of Trieste to Yugoslavia and Italian police disrupt the stages of the Giro.
Fausto Coppi took his revenge, on Gino Bartali, the following year by winning the 1947 Giro d'Italia
.
In 1948
Fausto Coppi was ahead of Gino Bartali in the Dolomites but withdrew from the Giro, along with his team after the 17th stage result. It was suspected by the team of Coppi, to have received improper assistance while on a mountain. Juries inflicted a two minute penalty. However, for Coppi and his team, it was not enough, outraged, they withdrew from the Giro d'Italia leaving the victory to Fiorenzo Magni
. Magni won the Giro by only 11 seconds over Ezio Cecchi, thus forming the smallest gap ever recorded in the Giro's history.
Fausto Coppi
returned to his best form in 1949
, where he won his third Giro d'Italia equalizing his rival, Gino Bartali. He shined especially during the 17th stage, where he crossed the Col de Larche, the Col de Vars
, the Col d'Izoard
, the Col de Montgenevre
, and the Sestriere
during a solo breakaway. That distance amounted to more than 190 miles of escape. Coppi finished the stage with nearly 12 minutes on Bartali. The Italian writer Dino Buzzati
then special envoy of the Corriere della Sera
wrote about the victory of Coppi
:
The 1950 Giro d'Italia
was the first Giro d'Italia to be won by a non-Italian, it was won by the Swiss cyclist, Hugo Koblet
(nicknamed "the charming peddler"). Koblet beat out Gino Bartali for the overall victory of the Giro. Fausto Coppi suffered a fall during the 9th stage, he sustained a fractured pelvis. The injury deprived him of any chance of victory.
Fiorenzo Magni
won his second Giro d'Italia in 1951
, beating out the likes of Rik Van Steenbergen
for the overall victory. Fausto Coppi returned returned to glory, in 1952
and 1953
, by winning his fourth and fifth Giro d'Italia (especially in challenging Hugo Koblet
in the snowy peaks of the Stelvio
in 1959). Coppi's fifth victory in 1953 tied him with Alfredo Binda
, for the most Giro d'Italia victories. The 1952 Giro d'Italia
was saddened by the death of Italian rider Orfeo Ponsin who crashed against a tree in the fourth stage as he approached a bend.
, with Carlo Clerici
taking first and Hugo Koblet
placing second. This edition was marred by a strike by riders during the 21st stage, between Bolzano and St. Moritz
. The strike transformed the stage into a 222 km walk 10 hours. This was Gino Bartali
's last Giro d'Italia. Bartali ended up taking thirteenth place overall. He left the Giro with 3 pink jerseys, 7 King of the Mountains Classifications
victorys, and 17 stages wins.
Fiorenzo Magni
won his third Giro d'Italia in 1955
, finishing only 13 seconds ahead of Coppi
. Coppi died in 1960, the end of an era. In this edition, Raphael Géminiani
became the first French rider to don the pink jersey.
The Luxembourgian Charly Gaul
made a bang while at the 1956 edition
of the Giro. Far behind in the General Classification, in the evening of the 18th stage; he was 24th overall, and more than 16 minutes behind the leader. He went on the attack in the twentieth stage between Merano and Monte Bondone. After a start in the rain, snow made an appearance along with the temperature approaching -10 °C. Over 60 riders left the race, including the rider with the pink jersey, Pasquale Fornara
. Gaul won at the top of the Monte Bondone with more than 8 minutes ahead of the second placed rider on the stage, but Gaul not have the strength to lift his arms. He was taken to hospital where he retired, his jersey still stuck to his skin. This stage victory allowed him to take the pink jersey to Milan
, the end of the 1956 Giro. The feat accomplished by the Luxembourg during this stage is considered by some as one of the biggest in the history of cycling. Jacques Goddet
wrote the following day:
In 1957
, French Louison Bobet
missed becoming the first French to win the Giro d'Italia. He finished with just 19 more racing seconds than Gastone Nencini
. Nencini had been carrying the pink jersey for 8 stages. However, Raphael Géminiani
nicknamed "the big gun" won his second King of the Mountains Classification
. This edition was marked by an anecdote that was fraught with consequences for Charly Gaul
. Indeed, from the 18th stage, he was leading with 56 seconds ahead of Nencini and 1 minutes 17 seconds ahead of Louison Bobet
. After 102 km of racing, Gaul
stopped on the roadside to urinate; that moment Louison Bobet
, Nencini
, and Miguel Poblet
attacked. Gaul
came in furious, placing thirtieth position with a delay of 10 minutes.
The 1958 Giro
was won by Ercole Baldini
aka "The engine of Forlì" then at the height of his career, in fact, he was crowned the same year Road World Champion, as well as Italian Road Race Champion. This 41st edition was also the last edition in which Fausto Coppi
copmeted in before dying two years later.
Charly Gaul
was back in the 1959
, he won the Giro for the second time in his career. In addition to winning the pink jersey, Gaul also won the maglia verde for the King of the Mountains Classification
. Gaul's victory was cemented on the rise of Col du Petit Saint-Bernard at the penultimate stage between Aosta
and Courmayeur
. Gaul would win the stage, finishing 10 minutes ahead of his competitors, including Jacques Anquetil
. Anquetil was the overall leader before the end of the 21st stage of the race.
The 1960 Giro d'Italia
was the first Giro to be won by a Frenchman. Jacques Anquetil
was the first French cyclist to win the Giro d'Italia. He finished only 28 seconds ahead of Gastone Nencini
.
Arnaldo Pambianco
was the surprise winner of the 1961 Giro d'Italia
. With a record almost clear, he won the Giro in front of Jacques Anquetil
, Antonio Suárez
, and Charly Gaul
. With a breakaway during the 14th in stage difficult climatic conditions, Pambianco took the overall lead in the race. Despite the back of the favorites in the mountains including the rise of Stelvio Pass
, he would retain the advantage until the arrival of Milan
, thus winning the Giro.
The 1962
edition of the Giro d’Italia was won by Franco Balmamion
. This edition was also marked by severe weather conditions. The fourteenth stage was shortened following a violent storm which prevented the rise of the last two mountain passes, and forced the management of the race to try the finish on top of the Passo Rolle. This stage also saw the of the abandonment of 57 riders, which was rare in cycling. However, it was the sixteenth stage was won by Angelino Soler
, King of the Mountains Classification winner in 1962, that was decisive. Franco Balmamion finished second on the stage, just 1 minute 30 behind Soler. Balmamion made a big recovery in the overall standings, would allow him wear the pink jersey the next day and keep it up to Milan
.
Franco Balmamion
repeated his performance in the Giro, by winning his second Giro next year
, thanks to his consistency and cycling talent. However, it was Vito Taccone
, who marked the spirits during this 46th edition by being unstoppable in the mountain stages. Taccone won the green jersey by spending in the lead for 12 of 17 mountain passes for points where the King of the Mountains Classification
points were distributed. He also won 5 stages, including 4 consecutively.
Jacques Anquetil
absent from last year's Giro, in 1963, but he was back in 1964
. Anquetil was untouchable by wearing the pink jersey for 18 stages, winning his second Giro d‘Italia. He also won the Tour de France
in the same year, completing the rare Giro-Tour double.
The 1965 Giro d'Italia
was won by Vittorio Adorni
. This victory came during a difficult season for him, he finished second in the Milan-San Remo, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège
, and in the Italian National Road Race. He built his victory in the time-trial during the 13th stage along the 58 km route, and won it. This was the first year the Cima Coppi
was introduced to the Giro d'Italia, the Cima Coppi is the highest point the Giro d'Italia crosses each year. The first Cima Coppi was the Passo dello Stelvio. The climb was shortened by 800m, because of an avalanche. The first rider to cross the Stelvio was Graziano Battistini
.
The edition of 1966
, was won by Gianni Motta
. This edition was marked by the appearance of the Points Classification, which was also won by Gianni Motta
. Motta, thus became the first to achieve a double of that kind. Italo Zilioli
finished the Giro for the third consecutive time, in second place. Zilioli never won the Giro.
The 1967 Giro d'Italia
was the first of the young Belgian rider, Eddy Merckx
. Merckx won the twelfth and fourteenth stages of this edition. Felice Gimondi
won the nineteenth stage on the top stage of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo
, before Eddy Merckx and Gianni Motta
. The stage was canceled because many riders took advantage of repeated supporters, who helped cyclists push up the hill under heavy snowfall. Gimondi, who should have taken the pink jersey at the end of this stage, threatened to quit. However, he continued to race, and won his first of three Giros, after an epic duel with Jacques Anquetil
on the Passo del Tonale Passo and dell'Aprica.
's pink newsprint. The leader of the mountains classification
wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification used to wear the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey) but from 2010 wears the Maglia Rosso Passione (red jersey). The best young rider
wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
Italian Felice Gimondi
holds the record for the most podium finishes: nine in total, consisting of three victories, two second places and four third place finishes.
In the 1940s, there also was a black jersey
, for the cyclist who was last in the general classification.
.
, except that the Giro uses three categories for mountains while the Tour uses five. In the Giro, there are no Hors Catégorie or fourth-category ratings. Also, the Cima Coppi, the highest point reached in a particular Giro, is worth more points than the race's other first-category climbs. In 2011
, this classification was won by Stefano Garzelli
.
, with one key difference. Whereas in the Tour de France flat stages award more points than climbing stages, in the Giro all stages award the same points on the same scale. The stage win awards 25 points, second place is worth 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for fifteenth. The 2011
winner was Alberto Contador
.
In addition, stages can have one or more intermediate sprints: 6, 4, and 2 points are awarded to the first three cyclists passing these lines. These points also count toward the TV classification (Traguardo Volante, or "flying sprint"), a separate award.
it was won by Roman Kreuziger
.
, the city where the headquarters of the Gazzetta dello Sport were located. Though with occasional exceptions, this has been the rule until 1960
that year, the place of departure is changed each time. For some periods (1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1981–1989) and the place of arrival has changed, but the 1990
was added to restore the traditional Milan
, with a circuit to be repeated several times that serves as the final parade.
In 2009
, to commemorate the centennial
of the event, the arrival took place in Rome. The capital had already been place in the final round of the 1911
and 1950
. The 2010
edition ended in Verona
, as happened in editions 1981
and 1984
.
The tour takes place mainly in Italy, but often are included departure or conclusion of stage abroad, especially in countries bordering or close like San Marino, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Some stages were held in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany (2002
and 2006
), and Greece (1996
).
In 2012, the Giro will start abroad once again, in Denmark with stages in Herning
(hometown of Bjarne Riis
) and Horsens
.
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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
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
(the others being the Tour de France
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The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
and the Vuelta a España
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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...
), and is part of the UCI World Ranking
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calendar. It is the second most prominent stage race in the world (after the Tour), and along with the Tour and the Road World Cycling Championship
UCI Road World Championships
The UCI Road World Championships are the annual world championships for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale...
it makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling
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The Triple Crown of Cycling is considered the greatest achievement in cycling. Although more definitions for the term are used, mostly it means winning the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Road World Cycling Championship in one year, although occasionally a broader definition where one...
.
1908–1909: The Creation and First Edition
The origin of the Giro d'Italia is similar to that of the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. It began because of a competition between two newspapers, La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
and Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
. La Gazzetta dello Sporta wished to boost its circulation by holding a professional road race, like the Tour de France. Corriere della Sera wanted to increase its circulation by holding an organized car rally. On 7 August 1908 the newspaper's founder Eugenio Camillo Costamagna, director Armando Cougnet, and its editor Tullio Morgagni announced the inaugural Giro d'Italia to be held in 1909
1909 Giro d'Italia
The 1909 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport . The race started in Milan on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages...
. Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
offered a winners bonus of 3,000 lire.
On 13 May 1909 at 02:53 am 127 riders started the first Giro d'Italia, which took place from Loreto Place in Milan. The race was split into eight stages covering 2448 kilometres. A total of 49 riders finished, with Italian Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy....
winning the inaugural event. Ganna won three individual stages and the General Classification. Ganna received 5325 Lira
Lira
Lira is the name of the monetary unit of a number of countries, as well as the former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican City and Israel. The term originates from the value of a Troy pound of high purity silver. The libra was the basis of the monetary system of the Roman Empire...
as a winner’s prize, with all riders in the classification receiving 300 lira (at the time the Giro's director received 150 lira a month salary).
1910–1924: Italian Confirmation
During this period (and until 1950 with the victory of the Swiss Hugo KobletHugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet was a Swiss champion cyclist. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia as well as competing in six-day and pursuit races on the track. He won 70 races as a professional...
), the ranking of the Giro was exclusively Italian. Regarding stage victories, Stage 2 of the 1910 Giro d'Italia
1910 Giro d'Italia
The 1910 Giro d'Italia was the second edition of the race. It started in Milan on 18 May 1910, and finished in the same city on 6 June, after 10 stages....
was the first to see a non-Italian win, Jean-Baptiste Dortignacq
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Jean-Baptiste Dortignacq was a French road bicycle racer between 1900 and 1910. Dortignacq won seven stages in four Tour de France events...
, from France, was the first non-Italian to win a stage in the Giro d'Italia. In 1912
1912 Giro d'Italia
The 1912 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from May 19 to June 2, 1912, consisting of 9 stages, for a total of 2,443 km. It was the first and last Giro d'Italia to be disputed in squads and it was won by Team Atala....
, the ranking was done by teams and again saw the Italians win, this time with team Atala (best team already in 1910
1910 Giro d'Italia
The 1910 Giro d'Italia was the second edition of the race. It started in Milan on 18 May 1910, and finished in the same city on 6 June, after 10 stages....
). Of the 107 stages of the first 11 routes, 102 of the stages were won by Italian riders. It was in 1919
1919 Giro d'Italia
The 1919 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 8 June 1919, consisting of 10 stages for a total of 2,984 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.440 km/h. It was won by Costante Girardengo, first cyclist to hold the lead from the first to the last stage....
, when the first non-Italian made it on to the podium in the Giro. A Belgian, Marcel Buysse
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Marcel Buysse was a Belgian racing cyclist.After finishing fourth in the 1912 Tour de France, Buysse led the general classification for two days until a broken handlebar cost him dearly...
, placed third overall in the General Classification in the 1919 edition of the Giro. Two firsts also occurred during this period: in 1911 Carlo Galetti
Carlo Galetti
Carlo Galetti was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.He was born at Corsico. The highlight of his career was his three consecutive overall wins in the 1910, 1911 and 1912 Giro d'Italias, the last of which was won as part of Team Atala along with Giovanni Micheletto and Eberardo Pavesi.He...
became the first rider to win two consecutive Giros. Galetti won the Giro d'Italia in 1910
1910 Giro d'Italia
The 1910 Giro d'Italia was the second edition of the race. It started in Milan on 18 May 1910, and finished in the same city on 6 June, after 10 stages....
and 1911
1911 Giro d'Italia
The 1911 Giro d'Italia was the third edition of the race. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Italian unification, the race started in Rome on 15 May 1911, and finished in the same city on 6 June after 12 stages, for a total of 3,526 km....
. Galetti was also a member of Team Atala, when the won the Giro d'Italia in 1912. The 1911 Giro d'Italia was the first Giro d'Italia to not start or finish in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. Rome was given the privilege to host the start and finish of the Giro, in order to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the unification of Italy.
1925–1935: The Binda Age
Nicknamed the sitting climber", Alfredo BindaAlfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
, won his first Giro d'Italia in 1925
1925 Giro d'Italia
The 1925 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the 13th edition to take place. It was held from 16 May to 7 June 1925, with 12 stages stretching over 3,520 km, and was won by Alfredo Binda. Of 126 riders starting the race, only 30 finished it.-Stages:...
. Binda won the sixth stage of the 1925 Giro when he was only 23 years old. The following year, 1926
1926 Giro d'Italia
The 1926 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1926, consisting of 12 stages for a total of 3,429 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.113 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Brunero, who then became the first rider having won the Giro for three times.- Stages :- Final GC Standings:-...
, Binda won six stages out of the twelve possible, but he ended up losing to Giovanni Brunero
Giovanni Brunero
Gioanni Giuseppe Brunero was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He ranks 66th on Daniel Marszalek's cyclist ranking, the 18th Italian on the list.-Biography:...
. Brunero placed third overall in the 1925 Giro. By winning the 1926 edition of the race, Brunero became the first rider to win three Giro d'Italias.
Alfredo Binda took his revenge by winning the 1927 Giro
1927 Giro d'Italia
The 1927 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1927, consisting of 15 stages for a total of 3,758 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.85 km/h...
. He dominated the field by winning twelve out of the fifteen stages that composed the race that year. Binda's record of twelve stage wins in a single Giro d'Italia is still intact to this day. Giovanni Brunero claimed second place overall, finishing the Giro more than 27 minutes behind Binda. As Costante Girardengo
Costante Girardengo
Costante Girardengo was an Italian professional road bicycle racer, considered by many to be one of the finest riders in the history of the sport. He was the first rider to be declared a "Campionissimo" or "champion of champions" by the Italian media and fans...
did in 1919
1919 Giro d'Italia
The 1919 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 8 June 1919, consisting of 10 stages for a total of 2,984 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.440 km/h. It was won by Costante Girardengo, first cyclist to hold the lead from the first to the last stage....
, Binda was the leader of the Giro d'Italia from the first stage to the last stage of the race. Binda also won the first Men's Road Race at the 1927 Road World Championships
1927 UCI Road World Championships
- Events summary :...
and the Giro d'Italia in the same year.
In 1928
1928 Giro d'Italia
The 1928 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 12 May to 3 June 1928, consisting of 12 stages for a total of 3,044 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.75 km/h. It was won by Alfredo Binda....
Alfredo Binda was untouchable and won his third edition of the Giro. That victory tied him with Giovanni Brunero
Giovanni Brunero
Gioanni Giuseppe Brunero was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He ranks 66th on Daniel Marszalek's cyclist ranking, the 18th Italian on the list.-Biography:...
for the most overall victories of the Giro d'Italia, each had three tour victories to their name. Binda won six out of the twelve stages that composed the race. The eighth stage was won by his brother, and teammate, Albino Binda. The 1928 edition of the Giro d'Italia was also the one that gathered the largest number of participants, 298 started the race. The following year, 1929
1929 Giro d'Italia
The 1929 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1929, consisting of 14 stages for a total of 2,920 km, ridden at an average speed of 27.29 km/h...
, Binda became the first rider to win his fourth Giro d'Italias. During the 1929 Giro, Binda won a total of eight consecutive stages en route to his fourth overall victory. Domenico Piemontesi
Domenico Piemontesi
Domenico Piemontesi was an Italian professional road bicycle racer. He is most known for his 12 stage wins in the Giro d'Italia and his bronze medal in the Elite race of the 1927 Road World Championships....
finished second overall that year, with almost four more minutes of racing than Binda. Three other riders finished with a total time within ten minutes of Binda's.
1930 Giro d'Italia
The 1930 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 8 June 1930. It consisted of 15 stages for a total of 3,907 km, ridden at an average speed of 27.04 km/h. It was won by Luigi Marchisio....
, the race organizers paid Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
, winner of three consecutive Giro d'Italias, 22,500 lire to not participate in the race. Binda accepted the race organizers' offer and did not compete. Luigi Marchisio
Luigi Marchisio
Luigi Marchisio was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.Marchisio was born at Castelnuovo, Piedmont. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1930 Giro d'Italia, the youngest victor ever at the time...
took advantage of Binda's absence and won the Giro. By winning, he became the youngest rider to ever win the Giro d'Italia. Marchisio was 21 years old when he won the 1930 Giro d'Italia. His record was later eclipsed by the winner of the 1940 Giro d'Italia
1940 Giro d'Italia
The 1940 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 9 June 1940, consisting of 20 stages for a total of 3,574 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.240 km/h...
, Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
. Binda consoled himself that year by winning his second title of World Champion and two stages in the 1930 Tour de France
1930 Tour de France
The 1930 Tour de France was the 24th Tour de France, taking place from 2 to 27 July 1930. It consisted of 21 stages over 4,822 km, ridden at an average speed of 28.000 km/h....
.
He returned to 1931
1931 Giro d'Italia
The 1931 Giro d'Italia was held from 10 May to 31 May 1931. It was won by the Italian Francesco Camusso. This 20th edition covered 3,012 km, at an average speed of 29.33 km/h, for a total of 12 stages....
for the 20th edition of the Giro. This edition was particularly marked by the appearance of pink jersey (Maglia rosa) that is given to the overall leader. Its colour was the same as the newspaper that sponsored the race, La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
. The Italian Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia....
, winner of the 1st stage of the Giro was the first to wear it. Guerra won a total of four stages in the 1931 Giro d'Italia. For his return on Italian roads, Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
won and took the pink jersey by winning the third and fourth stages. Binda lost the pink jersey after the end of the sixth stage. Binda suffered a fall in the vicinity of Racecourse Villa Glori in Stage 7, that linked Rome and Perugia. The injuries sustained from the crash forced him to abandon the day after. Francesco Camusso
Francesco Camusso
Francesco Camusso was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.Camusso was born in Cumiana, Piedmont, and is ranked among the best Italian climbers ever. In his second year as professional, he won the 1931 Giro d'Italia...
, the winner of the eleventh stage, became the first rider in history to wear the Giro's pink jersey in Milan.
The 1932 Giro
1932 Giro d'Italia
The 1932 Giro d'Italia was held from 14 May to 5 June 1932. It was won by the Italian Antonio Pesenti. This 21st edition covered 3,235 km, at an average speed of 30.59 km/h, for a total of 13 stages....
was a disappointment for Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
. He finished in seventh place overall, finishing 19 minutes behind the winner, Antonio Pesenti
Antonio Pesenti
Antonio Pesenti was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Zogno, near Bergamo. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1932 Giro d'Italia. He also classified 3rd and 4th overall in the 1931 and 1932 Tour de France, respectively.He died at Bergamo in...
, winner of the event, which ends at 4 instead of the 1932 Tour de France
1932 Tour de France
The 1932 Tour de France was the 26th Tour de France, taking place July 6 to July 31, 1932. It consisted of 21 stages over 4479 km, ridden at an average speed of 29.047 km/h....
the same year. Hermann Buse
Hermann Buse
Hermann Buse was a German professional road bicycle racer, professional between 1929 and 1937. He won Liège–Bastogne–Liège in 1930. Buse was born in Berlin and died in Bremen.- Palmarès :1930- External links :...
, winner of the second stage became the first non-Italian to take the pink jersey, he lost it after the seventh stage to Pesenti
Antonio Pesenti
Antonio Pesenti was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Zogno, near Bergamo. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1932 Giro d'Italia. He also classified 3rd and 4th overall in the 1931 and 1932 Tour de France, respectively.He died at Bergamo in...
.
1933
1933 Giro d'Italia
The 1933 Giro d'Italia was held from 6 May to 28 May 1933. It was won by Alfredo Binda .This 20th edition covered 3,343 km at an average speed of 30.043 km/h, for a total of 17 stages.- Stages :...
marked a turning point for the Giro with the appearance of King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
and the first individual time trial
Individual time trial
An individual time trial is a road bicycle race in which cyclists race alone against the clock . There are also track-based time trials where riders compete in velodromes, and team time trials...
(ITT). The first individual time trial took place on the thirteenth stage, between Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
and Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
at a distance of 62 km long. The time trial was won by Alfredo Binda. In addition, the Giro consisted of seventeen stages, it typically was composed of twelve stages per Giro, closing in the format "Grand Tour
Grand Tour (cycling)
In road bicycle racing, a Grand Tour refers to one of the three major European professional cycling stage races:* Tour de France – Tour of France , held in July* Giro d'Italia – Tour of Italy , held in May...
" today. Unlike the previous year, the Giro was dominated again by Alfredo Binda, who returned to top form by winning the overall, King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
, and six stages from 13 days in rose. This victory was Binda's fifth overall victory of the Giro d'Italia, a record that still stands today. His record of five victories has since been reached by 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 Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
.
Alfredo Binda returned a favorite to the 1934 Giro d'Italia
1934 Giro d'Italia
The 1934 Giro d'Italia was held from 19 May to 10 June 1934. It was won by the Italian Learco Guerra. This 20th edition covered 3,706 km at an average speed of 30.548 km/h, for a total of 17 stages.Favourite Alfredo Binda retired during the 6th stage...
, but again, he was forced to withdraw due to injuries sustained from a crash. This time Binda was forced to retire during the sixth stage after a nasty fall. Binda was wounded by a pedal on his bicycle and he was then hit by a motorcycle Police. This 22nd edition was dominated by Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia....
called the locomotive won the General Classification, along with ten of the seventeen stages that made up the 1934 Giro d'Italia. However, Francesco Camusso
Francesco Camusso
Francesco Camusso was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.Camusso was born in Cumiana, Piedmont, and is ranked among the best Italian climbers ever. In his second year as professional, he won the 1931 Giro d'Italia...
finished second just 51 seconds behind Guerra. Camusso lost the pink jersey during the fourteenth stage, which was an individual time trial.
The 1935 Giro d'Italia
1935 Giro d'Italia
The 1935 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 9 June 1935. It was won by the Italian Vasco Bergamaschi. This 23rd edition covered 3,577 km at an average speed of 31.363 km/h, for a total of 18 stages....
was the last for Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
at the age of 32 years. This Giro was also the first Giro d'Italia for twenty year old, Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
, who would soon make a big name for himself in the world of cycling. Binda finished the Giro in sixteenth place, finishing 31 minutes behind the winner, Vasco Bergamaschi
Vasco Bergamaschi
Vasco Bergamaschi was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.Born in San Giacomo delle Segnate, Lombardy, Bergamaschi turned professional in 1930. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1935 Giro d'Italia, thanks to the collaboration of his teammate Learco Guerra...
. Bergamaschi won two stages en route to his overall victory. The young Bartali won the sixth stage and the King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
. The succession of Binda remains to establish the approach of the edition of 1936
1936 Giro d'Italia
The 1936 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to 7 June 1936, with a total of in 19 stages, run at an average speed of . It was won by Gino Bartali.-Stages:- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
. Binda would go down in history as the Giro's first rider to win five Giro d'Italia's (a record since equaled but never broken), and also by winning 41 stages of the Giro. Mario Cipollini
Mario Cipollini
Mario Cipollini , often abbreviated to "Cipo", is a retired Italian professional road cyclist most noted for his sprinting ability, the longevity of his dominance and his colourful personality. His nicknames include Il Re Leone and Super Mario...
has been the only one to surpass Binda's record of 41 stage wins, Cipollini won a record total of 42 stage wins of the Giro during his career.
1936–1953: The Bartali-Coppi Dual
1936 Giro d'Italia
The 1936 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to 7 June 1936, with a total of in 19 stages, run at an average speed of . It was won by Gino Bartali.-Stages:- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
, the hierarchy had to be rebuilt, after the departure of Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
. Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra
Learco Guerra was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia....
winner of the 1934
1934 Giro d'Italia
The 1934 Giro d'Italia was held from 19 May to 10 June 1934. It was won by the Italian Learco Guerra. This 20th edition covered 3,706 km at an average speed of 30.548 km/h, for a total of 17 stages.Favourite Alfredo Binda retired during the 6th stage...
edition, abandoned the race after breaking his arm. Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
won a total of three stages to help secure his victory in the 1936 Giro. Bartali won at age of 21, his first Giro d'Italia and his second King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
in a row.
Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
repeated by winning both classifications in the 1937 Giro d'Italia
1937 Giro d'Italia
The 1937 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 8 May to 30 May 1937, consisting of 19 stages for a total of 3,840 km, ridden at an average speed of 31.365 km/h. It was won by Gino Bartali .-Stages:- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders :- Sources...
. The 1937 Giro d'Italia was the first composed of 23 stages for a total of 3840 km and the first to use the roads of the Dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
which made the reputation of the Giro, the Passo di Costalunga and Passo Rolle. Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
crossed in front and won the big mountain stage of the Dolomite
Dolomite
Dolomite is a carbonate mineral composed of calcium magnesium carbonate CaMg2. The term is also used to describe the sedimentary carbonate rock dolostone....
.
The following year, 1938
1938 Giro d'Italia
The 1938 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 7 May to 29 May 1938, consisting of 18 stages for a total of 3,645 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.272 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Valetti.-Stages:...
, Bartali did not participate in the Giro, in order to focus on Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
. A fellow Italian, Giovanni Valetti
Giovanni Valetti
Giovanni Valetti was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his two overall wins in the 1938 and 1939 Giro d'Italia.-References:...
, won the Giro in 1938.
In the 1939 Giro d'Italia
1939 Giro d'Italia
The 1939 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 28 April to 18 May 1939, consisting of 17 stages for a total of 3,007 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.150 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Valetti....
, Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
and Giovanni Valetti
Giovanni Valetti
Giovanni Valetti was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlights of his career were his two overall wins in the 1938 and 1939 Giro d'Italia.-References:...
competed on the road. Both riders won a total of four stages. Valetti won the Giro by winning a critical Stage 16. The decisive stage victory gave him the lead and the pink jersey. The climbs of the Passo Pordoi and Falzarego are also emerged in mind, both climbed by Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
100.
In 1940
1940 Giro d'Italia
The 1940 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 9 June 1940, consisting of 20 stages for a total of 3,574 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.240 km/h...
Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
surrounded himself in his team Legnano, containing a young 20 year old Italian, Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
. Coppi took advantage of the fall of his team leader, Bartali, by showing his power and shining in the eleventh stage. Coppi's performance on the stage informed the general public of his ability. Coppi made the difference over his rivals, on the rise of Abletone and after 100 km the stage win moved allowed him to take the pink jersey. Despite two stage wins in Stage 17 and 19, Bartali was not able to retake the lead. With Coppi taking the overall victory, Bartali consoled himself by winning the King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
.
World War II interrupted the running of the Giro d'Italia between the years of 1941 and 1945, thus curbing the ambitions of Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
to equal the record number of victories by Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
. Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
was mobilized on the forehead, in Tunisia, and Bartali moved to Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
alongside Pope Pius XII.
After 5 years of waiting, the Giro resumed in 1946
1946 Giro d'Italia
The 1946 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 June to 7 July 1946, consisting of 17 stages for a total of 3,199 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.948 km/h...
, on the roads that were devastated by war. The Coppi-Bartali Rivalry divided Italy: the first, known as Gino the Pious, was the favorite of the Christian Democrats
Christian Democracy (Italy)
Christian Democracy was a Christian democratic party in Italy. It was founded in 1943 as the ideological successor of the historical Italian People's Party, which had the same symbol, a crossed shield ....
while the latter, Coppi, was revered by the left and progressives. The epic duel saw the victory of Bartali with only 47 seconds ahead of his rival, Coppi. This edition of the Giro d'Italia was also marked by clashes between activists in favor of the annexation of Trieste to Yugoslavia and Italian police disrupt the stages of the Giro.
Fausto Coppi took his revenge, on Gino Bartali, the following year by winning the 1947 Giro d'Italia
1947 Giro d'Italia
The 1947 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 15 June 1947, consisting of 19 stages for a total of 3,843 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.153 km/h. It was won by Fausto Coppi.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
.
In 1948
1948 Giro d'Italia
The 1948 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1948, consisting of 19 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni with 11 seconds advantage over Ezio Cecchi ....
Fausto Coppi was ahead of Gino Bartali in the Dolomites but withdrew from the Giro, along with his team after the 17th stage result. It was suspected by the team of Coppi, to have received improper assistance while on a mountain. Juries inflicted a two minute penalty. However, for Coppi and his team, it was not enough, outraged, they withdrew from the Giro d'Italia leaving the victory to Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
. Magni won the Giro by only 11 seconds over Ezio Cecchi, thus forming the smallest gap ever recorded in the Giro's history.
Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
returned to his best form in 1949
1949 Giro d'Italia
The 1949 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 12 June 1949, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi.Coppi won the overall by way of the memorable 17th stage , during which he escaped from the group and climbed alone the Maddalena Pass, the Col de Vars, the Col d'Izoard, the...
, where he won his third Giro d'Italia equalizing his rival, Gino Bartali. He shined especially during the 17th stage, where he crossed the Col de Larche, the Col de Vars
Col de Vars
Col de Vars, elevation 2108 m is a high mountain pass in the Alps between the departments of Hautes-Alpes and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in France.It connects the Ubaye Valley with the Queyras valley and Embrun...
, the Col d'Izoard
Col d'Izoard
Col d'Izoard is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Hautes-Alpes in France.It is accessible in summer via the D902 road, connecting Briançon on the north and the valley of the Guil in Queyras, which ends at Guillestre in the south. There are forbidding and barren scree slopes...
, the Col de Montgenevre
Col de Montgenèvre
The Col de Montgenèvre is a high mountain pass in the Cottian Alps, between France and Italy.The pass takes its name from the village Montgenèvre , which lies in the vicinity...
, and the Sestriere
Sestriere
Sestriere is an alpine village in Italy, a comune of the Province of Turin. It is from the French border. Its name derives from Latin: ad petram sistrariam, that is at sixty Roman miles from Turin....
during a solo breakaway. That distance amounted to more than 190 miles of escape. Coppi finished the stage with nearly 12 minutes on Bartali. The Italian writer Dino Buzzati
Dino Buzzati
Dino Buzzati-Traverso was an Italian novelist, short story writer, painter and poet, as well as a journalist for Corriere della Sera. His worldwide fame is mostly due to his novel Il deserto dei Tartari, translated into English as The Tartar Steppe.-Life:Buzzati was born at San Pellegrino,...
then special envoy of the Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
wrote about the victory of Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
:
The 1950 Giro d'Italia
1950 Giro d'Italia
The 1950 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 13 June 1950, consisting of 18 stages. It was won by the Swiss Hugo Koblet, first non-Italian cyclist to win the general classification of the Giro.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
was the first Giro d'Italia to be won by a non-Italian, it was won by the Swiss cyclist, Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet was a Swiss champion cyclist. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia as well as competing in six-day and pursuit races on the track. He won 70 races as a professional...
(nicknamed "the charming peddler"). Koblet beat out Gino Bartali for the overall victory of the Giro. Fausto Coppi suffered a fall during the 9th stage, he sustained a fractured pelvis. The injury deprived him of any chance of victory.
Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
won his second Giro d'Italia in 1951
1951 Giro d'Italia
The 1951 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 10 June 1951, consisting in 20 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
, beating out the likes of Rik Van Steenbergen
Rik Van Steenbergen
Rik Van Steenbergen was a Belgian racing cyclist, considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists.-Early life:...
for the overall victory. Fausto Coppi returned returned to glory, in 1952
1952 Giro d'Italia
The 1952 Giro d'Italia of was the 35th edition of the Giro d'Italia stage bicycle race, held from 17 May to 8 June 1952, consisting of 20 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi, who returned from injury and was at the apex of his career.-Final classification:...
and 1953
1953 Giro d'Italia
The 1953 Giro d'Italia was the 36th edition of Giro, held from 12 May to 2 June 1953, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi ....
, by winning his fourth and fifth Giro d'Italia (especially in challenging Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet was a Swiss champion cyclist. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia as well as competing in six-day and pursuit races on the track. He won 70 races as a professional...
in the snowy peaks of the Stelvio
Stilfs
Stilfs is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. It is located near the northern ramp of the Stelvio Pass....
in 1959). Coppi's fifth victory in 1953 tied him with Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda
Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
, for the most Giro d'Italia victories. The 1952 Giro d'Italia
1952 Giro d'Italia
The 1952 Giro d'Italia of was the 35th edition of the Giro d'Italia stage bicycle race, held from 17 May to 8 June 1952, consisting of 20 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi, who returned from injury and was at the apex of his career.-Final classification:...
was saddened by the death of Italian rider Orfeo Ponsin who crashed against a tree in the fourth stage as he approached a bend.
1954–1967: The Italian Reign Challenged
Two Swiss riders took first and second place at the 37th Giro1954 Giro d'Italia
The 1954 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 13 June 1954, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 4,396 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.563 km/h. It was won by the Swiss Carlo Clerici.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
, with Carlo Clerici
Carlo Clerici
Carlo Clerici was a Swiss professional road bicycle racer.The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1954 Giro d'Italia.-Career highlights:* 1950: 3rd in Stausee Rundfahrt Klingnau...
taking first and Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet
Hugo Koblet was a Swiss champion cyclist. He won the Tour de France and the Giro d'Italia as well as competing in six-day and pursuit races on the track. He won 70 races as a professional...
placing second. This edition was marred by a strike by riders during the 21st stage, between Bolzano and St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
. The strike transformed the stage into a 222 km walk 10 hours. This was Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali
Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
's last Giro d'Italia. Bartali ended up taking thirteenth place overall. He left the Giro with 3 pink jerseys, 7 King of the Mountains Classifications
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
victorys, and 17 stages wins.
Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni
Fiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
won his third Giro d'Italia in 1955
1955 Giro d'Italia
The 1955 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 14 May to 5 June 1955, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni, the oldest winner of the Giro, at age 35....
, finishing only 13 seconds ahead of Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
. Coppi died in 1960, the end of an era. In this edition, Raphael Géminiani
Raphael Geminiani
Raphaël Géminiani is a French former road bicycle racer. He had six podium finishes in the Grand Tours. He is one of four children of Italian immigrants who moved to Clermont-Ferrand. He worked in a cycle shop and started racing as a boy...
became the first French rider to don the pink jersey.
The Luxembourgian Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
made a bang while at the 1956 edition
1956 Giro d'Italia
The 1956 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 10 June 1956, consisting of 23 stages. This 39th edition was won by the Luxemburgish Charly Gaul....
of the Giro. Far behind in the General Classification, in the evening of the 18th stage; he was 24th overall, and more than 16 minutes behind the leader. He went on the attack in the twentieth stage between Merano and Monte Bondone. After a start in the rain, snow made an appearance along with the temperature approaching -10 °C. Over 60 riders left the race, including the rider with the pink jersey, Pasquale Fornara
Pasquale Fornara
Pasquale Fornara was a professional Italian road bicycle racer who gained fame in the 1950s by winning the Tour de Suisse stage race four times, a record that remains....
. Gaul won at the top of the Monte Bondone with more than 8 minutes ahead of the second placed rider on the stage, but Gaul not have the strength to lift his arms. He was taken to hospital where he retired, his jersey still stuck to his skin. This stage victory allowed him to take the pink jersey to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, the end of the 1956 Giro. The feat accomplished by the Luxembourg during this stage is considered by some as one of the biggest in the history of cycling. Jacques Goddet
Jacques Goddet
Jacques Goddet was a French sports journalist and director of the Tour de France from 1936 to 1986....
wrote the following day:
In 1957
1957 Giro d'Italia
The 1957 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 9 June 1957, consisting of 21 stages.This 40th edition was won by the Italian Gastone Nencini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:*Maglia verde:...
, French Louison Bobet
Louison Bobet
Louis 'Louison' Bobet was a French professional road racing cyclist. He was the first great French rider of the post-war period and the first rider to win the Tour de France in three successive years, from 1953 to 1955...
missed becoming the first French to win the Giro d'Italia. He finished with just 19 more racing seconds than Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini was an Italian road racing cyclist who won the 1960 Tour de France and the 1957 Giro d'Italia....
. Nencini had been carrying the pink jersey for 8 stages. However, Raphael Géminiani
Raphael Geminiani
Raphaël Géminiani is a French former road bicycle racer. He had six podium finishes in the Grand Tours. He is one of four children of Italian immigrants who moved to Clermont-Ferrand. He worked in a cycle shop and started racing as a boy...
nicknamed "the big gun" won his second King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
. This edition was marked by an anecdote that was fraught with consequences for Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
. Indeed, from the 18th stage, he was leading with 56 seconds ahead of Nencini and 1 minutes 17 seconds ahead of Louison Bobet
Louison Bobet
Louis 'Louison' Bobet was a French professional road racing cyclist. He was the first great French rider of the post-war period and the first rider to win the Tour de France in three successive years, from 1953 to 1955...
. After 102 km of racing, Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
stopped on the roadside to urinate; that moment Louison Bobet
Louison Bobet
Louis 'Louison' Bobet was a French professional road racing cyclist. He was the first great French rider of the post-war period and the first rider to win the Tour de France in three successive years, from 1953 to 1955...
, Nencini
Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini was an Italian road racing cyclist who won the 1960 Tour de France and the 1957 Giro d'Italia....
, and Miguel Poblet
Miguel Poblet
Miguel Poblet i Orriols, born March 18, 1928 at Montcada i Reixac in the northern suburbs of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, is a Spanish former professional cyclist whose career lasted from 1944 to 1962, during which he had over 200 professional victories...
attacked. Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
came in furious, placing thirtieth position with a delay of 10 minutes.
The 1958 Giro
1958 Giro d'Italia
The 1958 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 18 May to 8 June 1958, consisting of 20 stages.This 41st edition was won by the Italian Ercole Baldini.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
was won by Ercole Baldini
Ercole Baldini
Ercole Baldini is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his win in the 1958 Giro d'Italia.-Biography:Baldini was born at Villanova di Forlì ....
aka "The engine of Forlì" then at the height of his career, in fact, he was crowned the same year Road World Champion, as well as Italian Road Race Champion. This 41st edition was also the last edition in which Fausto Coppi
Fausto Coppi
Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
copmeted in before dying two years later.
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
was back in the 1959
1959 Giro d'Italia
The 1959 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 7 June 1959, consisting of 22 stages. This 42nd edition was won by Charly Gaul.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
, he won the Giro for the second time in his career. In addition to winning the pink jersey, Gaul also won the maglia verde for the King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
. Gaul's victory was cemented on the rise of Col du Petit Saint-Bernard at the penultimate stage between Aosta
Aosta
Aosta is the principal city of the bilingual Aosta Valley in the Italian Alps, north-northwest of Turin. It is situated near the Italian entrance of the Mont Blanc Tunnel, at the confluence of the Buthier and the Dora Baltea, and at the junction of the Great and Little St. Bernard routes...
and Courmayeur
Courmayeur
Courmayeur is an Italian town and comune in the autonomous region of Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. It is located at the foot of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in western Europe, in the Graian Alps range, and is crossed by the Dora Baltea...
. Gaul would win the stage, finishing 10 minutes ahead of his competitors, including Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
. Anquetil was the overall leader before the end of the 21st stage of the race.
The 1960 Giro d'Italia
1960 Giro d'Italia
The 1960 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1960, consisting of 21 stages. This 43rd edition was won by the French Jacques Anquetil.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
was the first Giro to be won by a Frenchman. Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
was the first French cyclist to win the Giro d'Italia. He finished only 28 seconds ahead of Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini
Gastone Nencini was an Italian road racing cyclist who won the 1960 Tour de France and the 1957 Giro d'Italia....
.
Arnaldo Pambianco
Arnaldo Pambianco
Arnaldo Pambianco is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1961 Giro d'Italia...
was the surprise winner of the 1961 Giro d'Italia
1961 Giro d'Italia
The 1961 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 20 May to 11 June 1961, consisting of 21 stages. This 44th edition was won by Arnaldo Pambianco.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
. With a record almost clear, he won the Giro in front of Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
, Antonio Suárez
Antonio Suarez
Antonio Suárez Vázquez was a professional road racing cyclist from Spain between 1956 and 1965. He is most famous for winning the overall title and the climbers classification at the 1959 Vuelta a España...
, and Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul
Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories...
. With a breakaway during the 14th in stage difficult climatic conditions, Pambianco took the overall lead in the race. Despite the back of the favorites in the mountains including the rise of Stelvio Pass
Stelvio Pass
The Stelvio Pass , located in Italy, at 2757 m is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps, and the second highest in the Alps, slightly below the Col de l'Iseran .-Location:...
, he would retain the advantage until the arrival of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, thus winning the Giro.
The 1962
1962 Giro d'Italia
The 1962 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 45th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 19 May to 9 June 1962. It consisted of 21 stages and was won by Franco Balmamion. The 1962 Giro d'Italia did not have any time trials, and was designed to visit many tourist attractions.-Final classification:-Leaders...
edition of the Giro d’Italia was won by Franco Balmamion
Franco Balmamion
Franco Balmamion , is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist who raced between 1960 and 1972.Balmamion was born in Nole...
. This edition was also marked by severe weather conditions. The fourteenth stage was shortened following a violent storm which prevented the rise of the last two mountain passes, and forced the management of the race to try the finish on top of the Passo Rolle. This stage also saw the of the abandonment of 57 riders, which was rare in cycling. However, it was the sixteenth stage was won by Angelino Soler
Angelino Soler
Angelino Soler Romagura is a former professional road bicycle racer from Spain who won the 1961 Vuelta a España. The following year, Soler captured three mountainous stages to win the climbers classification at the 1962 Giro d'Italia.- Major achievements :19591961 – Faema...
, King of the Mountains Classification winner in 1962, that was decisive. Franco Balmamion finished second on the stage, just 1 minute 30 behind Soler. Balmamion made a big recovery in the overall standings, would allow him wear the pink jersey the next day and keep it up to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
.
Franco Balmamion
Franco Balmamion
Franco Balmamion , is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist who raced between 1960 and 1972.Balmamion was born in Nole...
repeated his performance in the Giro, by winning his second Giro next year
1963 Giro d'Italia
The 1963 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 46th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 19 May to 9 June 1963. It consisted of 21 stages and was won by Franco Balmamion.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
, thanks to his consistency and cycling talent. However, it was Vito Taccone
Vito Taccone
Vito Taccone was an Italian former road cyclist.Born in Avezzano, he made his professional debut in 1961. In the same year he won the Giro di Lombardia...
, who marked the spirits during this 46th edition by being unstoppable in the mountain stages. Taccone won the green jersey by spending in the lead for 12 of 17 mountain passes for points where the King of the Mountains Classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
points were distributed. He also won 5 stages, including 4 consecutively.
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
absent from last year's Giro, in 1963, but he was back in 1964
1964 Giro d'Italia
The 1964 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 47th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1964. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Jacques Anquetil.- Final placings:- Maglia rosa holders:...
. Anquetil was untouchable by wearing the pink jersey for 18 stages, winning his second Giro d‘Italia. He also won the Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
in the same year, completing the rare Giro-Tour double.
The 1965 Giro d'Italia
1965 Giro d'Italia
The 1965 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 48th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1965. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Vittorio Adorni.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
was won by Vittorio Adorni
Vittorio Adorni
Vittorio Adorni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist .-Beginnings:Vittorio Adorni was a talented amateur and showed early talent at riding alone...
. This victory came during a difficult season for him, he finished second in the Milan-San Remo, the Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège, often called La Doyenne , is one of the five 'Monuments' of the European professional road cycling calendar. It is run in the Ardennes region of Belgium, from Liège to Bastogne and back....
, and in the Italian National Road Race. He built his victory in the time-trial during the 13th stage along the 58 km route, and won it. This was the first year the Cima Coppi
Cima Coppi
The Cima Coppi is the highest altitude reached by the passage of cyclists during the course of the Giro d'Italia. It was established in 1965, five years after the death of the "champion" Fausto Coppi.- Past Cima Coppi's :...
was introduced to the Giro d'Italia, the Cima Coppi is the highest point the Giro d'Italia crosses each year. The first Cima Coppi was the Passo dello Stelvio. The climb was shortened by 800m, because of an avalanche. The first rider to cross the Stelvio was Graziano Battistini
Graziano Battistini
Graziano Battistini was an Italian professional road bicycle racer. In 1960, Battistini won two stages in the Tour de France, and finished in second place in the general classification.- Palmarès :1959...
.
The edition of 1966
1966 Giro d'Italia
The 1966 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 49th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 8 June 1966. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Gianni Motta.The points classification was introduced in this edition.- Final classment:...
, was won by Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
. This edition was marked by the appearance of the Points Classification, which was also won by Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
. Motta, thus became the first to achieve a double of that kind. Italo Zilioli
Italo Zilioli
Italo Zilioli is an Italian former professional cyclist.Born in Turin, as a professional he won 58 races, including the 1966 Züri-Metzgete...
finished the Giro for the third consecutive time, in second place. Zilioli never won the Giro.
The 1967 Giro d'Italia
1967 Giro d'Italia
The 1967 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 50th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1967. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Felice Gimondi.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:...
was the first of the young Belgian rider, 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...
. Merckx won the twelfth and fourteenth stages of this edition. 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...
won the nineteenth stage on the top stage of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are three distinctive battlement-like peaks, in the Sexten Dolomites of northeastern Italy. They are probably one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps...
, before Eddy Merckx and Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta
Gianni Motta is an Italian former bicycle racer who won the 1966 Giro d'Italia .Gianni Motta was born at Cassano d'Adda...
. The stage was canceled because many riders took advantage of repeated supporters, who helped cyclists push up the hill under heavy snowfall. Gimondi, who should have taken the pink jersey at the end of this stage, threatened to quit. However, he continued to race, and won his first of three Giros, after an epic duel with Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil
Jacques Anquetil was a French road racing cyclist and the first cyclist to win the Tour de France five times, in 1957 and from 1961 to 1964...
on the Passo del Tonale Passo and dell'Aprica.
Classifications
Whereas the overall leader of the Tour de France is awarded a yellow jersey (originally to correspond with L'Auto 's yellow pages), since 1931 the leader of the general classification in the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with newspaper La Gazzetta dello SportLa Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
's pink newsprint. The leader of the mountains classification
Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia
The mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia is a secondary classification. In this classification, points are awarded to the leading riders over designated climbs. Most climbs are sorted into one of three scales based on difficulty and its position on that day's stage...
wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification used to wear the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey) but from 2010 wears the Maglia Rosso Passione (red jersey). The best young rider
Young rider classification in the Giro d'Italia
Since 1976, The Giro d'Italia has had a young rider classification. The leader in this classification wears the maglia bianca . The classification is determined by the best overall time, but only young cyclists were in the competition....
wears the maglia bianca (white jersey).
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...
holds the record for the most podium finishes: nine in total, consisting of three victories, two second places and four third place finishes.
In the 1940s, there also was a black jersey
Maglia nera
The "Maglia Nera" was a black jersey awarded as a symbolic prize in cycling competition at the Giro d'Italia, given to the last man to finish the race. It was allocated between 1946 and 1951....
, for the cyclist who was last in the general classification.
General classification
The maglia rosa, or pink jersey, is worn each day by the cyclist with the fastest overall time up to that point of the Giro. The rider wearing the jersey may change from day to day, but given the glory and extra exposure for the team, individual and sponsor of the rider who holds the jersey, teams often make extra efforts to keep the jersey on the race leader from day to day. In fact, each team brings several pink jerseys to the race in case one of their riders becomes the leader. The cyclist with the lowest time at the end of the Giro's last stage wins the Giro. This is similar to the Yellow jersey used in the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
.
- 5 wins: Alfredo BindaAlfredo BindaAlfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
(1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933), Fausto CoppiFausto CoppiAngelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
(1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), Eddy MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard 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...
(1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974) - 3 wins: Giovanni BruneroGiovanni BruneroGioanni Giuseppe Brunero was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. He ranks 66th on Daniel Marszalek's cyclist ranking, the 18th Italian on the list.-Biography:...
(1921, 1922, 1926), Gino BartaliGino BartaliGino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
(1936, 1937, 1946), Fiorenzo MagniFiorenzo MagniFiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
(1948, 1951, 1955), Felice GimondiFelice GimondiFelice 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...
(1967, 1969, 1976), Bernard HinaultBernard HinaultBernard Hinault is a former French cyclist known for five victories in the Tour de France. He is one of only five cyclists to have won all three Grand Tours, and the only cyclist to have won each more than once. He won the Tour de France in 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1985...
(1980, 1982, 1985)
Mountains classification
During mountain stages of the race, points are awarded to the rider who is first to reach the top of each significant climb. Points are also awarded for riders who closely follow the leader up each climb. The number of points awarded varies according to the hill classification, which is determined by the steepness and length of that particular hill. The green jersey is worn by the rider who, at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of climbing points. If a rider holds both the pink and green jerseys, the green jersey is worn by the rider in second place. At the end of the Giro, the rider holding the most climbing points wins the climbing competition. In fact, some riders, particularly those who are neither sprinters nor particularly good at time-trialing, may attempt only to win this particular competition within the race. This is a similar competition to the polka dot jersey award of the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, except that the Giro uses three categories for mountains while the Tour uses five. In the Giro, there are no Hors Catégorie or fourth-category ratings. Also, the Cima Coppi, the highest point reached in a particular Giro, is worth more points than the race's other first-category climbs. In 2011
2011 Giro d'Italia
The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
, this classification was won by Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli
Stefano Garzelli is an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The high point of his career to date was his overall win in the 2000 Giro d'Italia, after a close three-way competition with Gilberto Simoni and Francesco Casagrande.-Career:He started out as being a domestique for Marco Pantani but...
.
- 7 wins: Gino BartaliGino BartaliGino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938...
- 4 wins: José Manuel Fuente
- 3 wins: Claudio ChiappucciClaudio ChiappucciClaudio Chiappucci is a retired Italian professional cyclist. He was on the podium three times in the Tour de France general classification - second in 1990, third in 1991 and second again in 1992.-Career:...
, Claudio BortolottoClaudio BortolottoClaudio Bortolotto is a former Italian professional cyclist. The highlight of his career came with his victories in the Mountains Classification at the Giro d'Italia. He won the Mountains Classification in 1979, 1980, and 1981. Bortolotto finished ninth overall in the 1977 and 1978 at the Giro...
, Franco BitossiFranco BitossiFranco Bitossi is an Italian former professional cyclist. He was born in Camaioni di Carmignano.Bitossi cycled for three years as an amateur and became a professional in October 1961, after he had reached the required age of 21...
, Fausto Coppi
Points classification
Points are given to the rider who is first to reach the end of, or determined places during, any stage of the Giro. The red jersey is worn by the rider who at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of points. The rider whom at the end of the Giro, holds the most points, wins the points competition. This is a similar competition as the green jersey of the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
, with one key difference. Whereas in the Tour de France flat stages award more points than climbing stages, in the Giro all stages award the same points on the same scale. The stage win awards 25 points, second place is worth 20 points, third 16, fourth 14, fifth 12, sixth 10, and one point less per place down the line, to a single point for fifteenth. The 2011
2011 Giro d'Italia
The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
winner was Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador Velasco is a Spanish professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTeam . He was the winner of the 2007 Tour de France with the team. With the Astana team he has won the 2008 Giro d'Italia, the 2008 Vuelta a España, the 2009 Tour de France, the 2010 Tour de France and won 2011 Giro...
.
In addition, stages can have one or more intermediate sprints: 6, 4, and 2 points are awarded to the first three cyclists passing these lines. These points also count toward the TV classification (Traguardo Volante, or "flying sprint"), a separate award.
- 4 wins: Francesco MoserFrancesco MoserFrancesco Moser , nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" , is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, and won the 1984 Giro d'Italia, the 1977 world road racing championship and six victories in three of the five Monuments...
, Giuseppe SaronniGiuseppe SaronniGiuseppe Saronni , also known as Beppe Saronni, is an Italian former racing cyclist.-Biography:Born in Novara, Piedmont, Saronni turned professional in 1977. During his career, that lasted until 1989, he won 193 races... - 3 wins: Mario CipolliniMario CipolliniMario Cipollini , often abbreviated to "Cipo", is a retired Italian professional road cyclist most noted for his sprinting ability, the longevity of his dominance and his colourful personality. His nicknames include Il Re Leone and Super Mario...
, Roger De VlaeminckRoger De VlaeminckRoger De Vlaeminck is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist. He was described by Rik Van Looy as '"The most talented and the only real classics rider of his generation"...
, Johan Van der VeldeJohan van der VeldeJohan van der Velde is a former Dutch cyclist. In the 1980 Tour de France he won the Maillot blanc, or white jersey, for being the best young rider under 25, also placing 12th overall that year. He had been a racing cyclist for only a year...
Youth Competition
The youth competition is a competition within the giro, celebrating young riders. The white jersey is given to the rider under the age of 25 who gets the highest ranking in the general classification. In 20112011 Giro d'Italia
The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was...
it was won by Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger
Roman Kreuziger is a Czech professional road bicycle racer for UCI ProTour team . Kreuziger is an all-rounder, with climbing and time trial abilities, becoming a contender for the General Classification of stage races...
.
Where the Giro has started and ended
For nearly half a century, the Giro started and finished by MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, the city where the headquarters of the Gazzetta dello Sport were located. Though with occasional exceptions, this has been the rule until 1960
1960 Giro d'Italia
The 1960 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1960, consisting of 21 stages. This 43rd edition was won by the French Jacques Anquetil.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
that year, the place of departure is changed each time. For some periods (1965, 1966, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1981–1989) and the place of arrival has changed, but the 1990
1990 Giro d'Italia
The 1990 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 73rd running of the race, was held from 18 May to 6 June 1990. It covered 3,450 km, for a total of 21 stages, and was completed at an average speed of 37.609 km/h....
was added to restore the traditional Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, with a circuit to be repeated several times that serves as the final parade.
In 2009
2009 Giro d'Italia
The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race...
, to commemorate the centennial
1909 Giro d'Italia
The 1909 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport . The race started in Milan on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages...
of the event, the arrival took place in Rome. The capital had already been place in the final round of the 1911
1911 Giro d'Italia
The 1911 Giro d'Italia was the third edition of the race. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Italian unification, the race started in Rome on 15 May 1911, and finished in the same city on 6 June after 12 stages, for a total of 3,526 km....
and 1950
1950 Giro d'Italia
The 1950 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 13 June 1950, consisting of 18 stages. It was won by the Swiss Hugo Koblet, first non-Italian cyclist to win the general classification of the Giro.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:...
. The 2010
2010 Giro d'Italia
The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country...
edition ended in Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, as happened in editions 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:...
and 1984
1984 Giro d'Italia
The 1984 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 67th running or the race, was held from 17 May to 10 June 1984, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Francesco Moser, who took over the lead from Laurent Fignon in the final stage...
.
The tour takes place mainly in Italy, but often are included departure or conclusion of stage abroad, especially in countries bordering or close like San Marino, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Some stages were held in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany (2002
2002 Giro d'Italia
The 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo...
and 2006
2006 Giro d'Italia
The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan...
), and Greece (1996
1996 Giro d'Italia
The 1996 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 79th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 9 June 1996. It covered a total of 3,990 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.877 km/h...
).
Giro starts outside Italy
| Year | Country | City |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 1965 Giro d'Italia The 1965 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 48th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1965. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Vittorio Adorni.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
 San Marino |
|
| 1966 1966 Giro d'Italia The 1966 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 49th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 8 June 1966. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Gianni Motta.The points classification was introduced in this edition.- Final classment:... |
 Monaco |
Monte Carlo Monte Carlo Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco.... |
| 1973 1973 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 :... |
 Belgium |
Verviers Verviers Verviers is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. The Verviers municipality includes the old communes of Ensival, Lambermont, Petit-Rechain, Stembert, and Heusy... |
| 1974 1974 Giro d'Italia The 1974 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to June 8, 1974, starting from Vatican City. It was won by the Belgian Eddy Merckx.This 57th edition covered 4,001 km at an average speed of 35.364 km/h, for a total of 22 stages.... |
 Vatican |
|
| 1996 1996 Giro d'Italia The 1996 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 79th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 9 June 1996. It covered a total of 3,990 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.877 km/h... |
 Greece |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... |
| 1998 1998 Giro d'Italia The 1998 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 81st running of the race, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1998. It covered , in 22 stages, and it was won by Marco Pantani.... |
 France |
Nice Nice Nice is the fifth most populous city in France, after Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Toulouse, with a population of 348,721 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Nice extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of more than 955,000 on an area of... |
| 2002 2002 Giro d'Italia The 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo... |
 Netherlands |
Groningen |
| 2006 2006 Giro d'Italia The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan... |
Belgium |
Seraing Seraing Seraing is a Walloon municipality of Belgium in Province of Liege. The municipality of Seraing includes the old communes of Boncelles, Jemeppe-sur-Meuse, and Ougrée. With Liège, Herstal, Saint-Nicolas, Ans, and Flémalle it forms the greater Liège agglomeration... |
| 2010 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
Netherlands |
Amsterdam Amsterdam Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population... |
| 2012 2012 Giro d'Italia The 2012 Giro d'Italia is scheduled to be the 95th edition of Giro d'Italia. It is scheduled to start in the Danish city of Herning, and end in Milan. The complete route of the 2012 Giro d'Italia was announced in mid October... |
 Denmark |
Herning Herning Herning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208... |
In 2012, the Giro will start abroad once again, in Denmark with stages in Herning
Herning
Herning Municipality is a municipality in Region Midtjylland on the Jutland peninsula in western Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 1,336 km² and a total population of 84,208...
(hometown of Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Riis
Bjarne Lykkegård Riis , nicknamed The Eagle from Herning , is a Danish former professional road bicycle racer who placed first in the 1996 Tour de France, and is now the team owner and manager of Danish UCI ProTour outfit Team Saxo Bank Sungard...
) and Horsens
Horsens
Horsens is a Danish city in east Jutland. It is the site of the council of Horsens municipality. The city's population is 53,807 and the Horsens municipality's population is 82,835 ....
.
Multiple winners
| Cyclist | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1925 1925 Giro d'Italia The 1925 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the 13th edition to take place. It was held from 16 May to 7 June 1925, with 12 stages stretching over 3,520 km, and was won by Alfredo Binda. Of 126 riders starting the race, only 30 finished it.-Stages:... , 1927 1927 Giro d'Italia The 1927 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1927, consisting of 15 stages for a total of 3,758 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.85 km/h... , 1928 1928 Giro d'Italia The 1928 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 12 May to 3 June 1928, consisting of 12 stages for a total of 3,044 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.75 km/h. It was won by Alfredo Binda.... , 1929 1929 Giro d'Italia The 1929 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1929, consisting of 14 stages for a total of 2,920 km, ridden at an average speed of 27.29 km/h... , 1933 1933 Giro d'Italia The 1933 Giro d'Italia was held from 6 May to 28 May 1933. It was won by Alfredo Binda .This 20th edition covered 3,343 km at an average speed of 30.043 km/h, for a total of 17 stages.- Stages :... |
|
| 5 | 1940 1940 Giro d'Italia The 1940 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 9 June 1940, consisting of 20 stages for a total of 3,574 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.240 km/h... , 1947 1947 Giro d'Italia The 1947 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 15 June 1947, consisting of 19 stages for a total of 3,843 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.153 km/h. It was won by Fausto Coppi.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... , 1949 1949 Giro d'Italia The 1949 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 12 June 1949, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi.Coppi won the overall by way of the memorable 17th stage , during which he escaped from the group and climbed alone the Maddalena Pass, the Col de Vars, the Col d'Izoard, the... , 1952 1952 Giro d'Italia The 1952 Giro d'Italia of was the 35th edition of the Giro d'Italia stage bicycle race, held from 17 May to 8 June 1952, consisting of 20 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi, who returned from injury and was at the apex of his career.-Final classification:... , 1953 1953 Giro d'Italia The 1953 Giro d'Italia was the 36th edition of Giro, held from 12 May to 2 June 1953, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fausto Coppi .... |
|
| 5 | 1968 1968 Giro d'Italia The 1968 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 51st edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1968. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Eddy Merckx.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:... , 1970 1970 Giro d'Italia The 1970 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 53rd edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 18 May to 7 June 1970. It consisted of 20 stages and was won by Eddy Merckx.-General classification:The top ten of the general classification:- Pink jersey holders:... , 1972 1972 Giro d'Italia The 1972 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 55th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 11 June 1972, consisting of 20 stages. It was won by Eddy Merckx.-Final classment:-Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:... , 1973 1973 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 :... , 1974 1974 Giro d'Italia The 1974 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to June 8, 1974, starting from Vatican City. It was won by the Belgian Eddy Merckx.This 57th edition covered 4,001 km at an average speed of 35.364 km/h, for a total of 22 stages.... |
|
| 3 | 1921 1921 Giro d'Italia The 1921 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 25 May to 12 June 1921, consisting of 10 stages for a total of 3,107 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.59 km/h... , 1922 1922 Giro d'Italia The 1922 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 11 June 1922, consisting of 10 stages for a total of 3,095 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.856 km/h... , 1926 1926 Giro d'Italia The 1926 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1926, consisting of 12 stages for a total of 3,429 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.113 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Brunero, who then became the first rider having won the Giro for three times.- Stages :- Final GC Standings:-... |
|
| 3 | 1936 1936 Giro d'Italia The 1936 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to 7 June 1936, with a total of in 19 stages, run at an average speed of . It was won by Gino Bartali.-Stages:- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:... , 1937 1937 Giro d'Italia The 1937 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 8 May to 30 May 1937, consisting of 19 stages for a total of 3,840 km, ridden at an average speed of 31.365 km/h. It was won by Gino Bartali .-Stages:- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders :- Sources... , 1946 1946 Giro d'Italia The 1946 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 June to 7 July 1946, consisting of 17 stages for a total of 3,199 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.948 km/h... |
|
| 3 | 1948 1948 Giro d'Italia The 1948 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1948, consisting of 19 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni with 11 seconds advantage over Ezio Cecchi .... , 1951 1951 Giro d'Italia The 1951 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 10 June 1951, consisting in 20 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... , 1955 1955 Giro d'Italia The 1955 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 14 May to 5 June 1955, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni, the oldest winner of the Giro, at age 35.... |
|
| 3 | 1967 1967 Giro d'Italia The 1967 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 50th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1967. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Felice Gimondi.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:... , 1969 1969 Giro d'Italia The 1969 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 52nd edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 16 May to 8 June 1969. It consisted of 23 stages and was won by Felice Gimondi.... , 1976 1976 Giro d'Italia The 1976 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 59th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 12 June 1976, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Felice Gimondi.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:... |
|
| 3 | 1980 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... , 1982 1982 Giro d'Italia The 1982 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 13 May to 6 June 1982, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Bernard Hinault.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:*Maglia ciclamino: Francesco Moser... , 1985 1985 Giro d'Italia The 1985 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 9 June 1985, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 3,998 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.89 km/h... |
|
| 2 | 1910 1910 Giro d'Italia The 1910 Giro d'Italia was the second edition of the race. It started in Milan on 18 May 1910, and finished in the same city on 6 June, after 10 stages.... , 1911 1911 Giro d'Italia The 1911 Giro d'Italia was the third edition of the race. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Italian unification, the race started in Rome on 15 May 1911, and finished in the same city on 6 June after 12 stages, for a total of 3,526 km.... |
|
| 2 | 1919 1919 Giro d'Italia The 1919 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 8 June 1919, consisting of 10 stages for a total of 2,984 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.440 km/h. It was won by Costante Girardengo, first cyclist to hold the lead from the first to the last stage.... , 1923 1923 Giro d'Italia The 1923 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the 11th edition to take place. It was held from 23 May to 10 June 1923, with 10 stages stretching over 3,202 km and was won by Costante Girardengo of Italy. Attrition reduced the 97 starters to just 38 finishers.... |
|
| 2 | 1938 1938 Giro d'Italia The 1938 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 7 May to 29 May 1938, consisting of 18 stages for a total of 3,645 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.272 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Valetti.-Stages:... , 1939 1939 Giro d'Italia The 1939 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 28 April to 18 May 1939, consisting of 17 stages for a total of 3,007 km, ridden at an average speed of 34.150 km/h. It was won by Giovanni Valetti.... |
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| 2 | 1956 1956 Giro d'Italia The 1956 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 10 June 1956, consisting of 23 stages. This 39th edition was won by the Luxemburgish Charly Gaul.... , 1959 1959 Giro d'Italia The 1959 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 7 June 1959, consisting of 22 stages. This 42nd edition was won by Charly Gaul.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
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| 2 | 1960 1960 Giro d'Italia The 1960 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1960, consisting of 21 stages. This 43rd edition was won by the French Jacques Anquetil.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... , 1964 1964 Giro d'Italia The 1964 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 47th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 16 May to 7 June 1964. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Jacques Anquetil.- Final placings:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
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| 2 | 1962 1962 Giro d'Italia The 1962 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 45th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 19 May to 9 June 1962. It consisted of 21 stages and was won by Franco Balmamion. The 1962 Giro d'Italia did not have any time trials, and was designed to visit many tourist attractions.-Final classification:-Leaders... , 1963 1963 Giro d'Italia The 1963 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 46th edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 19 May to 9 June 1963. It consisted of 21 stages and was won by Franco Balmamion.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
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| 2 | 1979 1979 Giro d'Italia The 1979 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 62nd edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 17 May to 6 June 1979. It covered a total of 3,301 km, in 19 stages and a prologue, completed at an average speed of 36.887 km/h... , 1983 1983 Giro d'Italia The 1983 Giro d'Italia was held from 12 May to 5 June 1983. It was won by the Giuseppe Saronni.This 66th edition covered 3,916 km, for a total of 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 38.9 km/h.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :... |
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| 2 | 1992 1992 Giro d'Italia The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h... , 1993 1993 Giro d'Italia The 1993 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 76th edition of the race, was held from 23 May to 13 June 1993, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,703 km, completed at an average speed of 37.723 km/h... |
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| 2 | 1997 1997 Giro d'Italia The 1997 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 80th running of the race, was held from 17 May to 8 June 1997. It covered a total of 3,912 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 38.017 km/h. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti.- General classification :... , 1999 1999 Giro d'Italia The 1999 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 82nd edition of the race, was held from 15 May to 6 June 1999. It covered in 22 stages. It was won by the Italian Ivan Gotti.... |
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| 2 | 2001 2001 Giro d'Italia The 2001 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 84th running of the race, was held from 19 May to 10 June 2001. It consisted of a prologue plus 21 stages with one rest days, for a total of 3,356 km, ridden at an average speed of 40.170 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.- Stages :-Jersey Progress:- General... , 2003 2003 Giro d'Italia The 2003 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 86th running of the race, was held from 10 May to 1 June 2003, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,472 km, ridden at an average speed of 38.828 km/h. It was won by Gilberto Simoni.... |
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| 2 | 2002 2002 Giro d'Italia The 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo... , 2005 2005 Giro d'Italia The 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h... |
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| 2 | 2006 2006 Giro d'Italia The 2006 Giro d'Italia was the 89th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 6 May to 28 May 2006, and covered , beginning in the Belgian mining town of Seraing and ending in Milan... , 2010 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
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| 2 | 2008 2008 Giro d'Italia The 2008 Giro d'Italia was the 91st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It began in Palermo on 10 May and ended in Milan on 1 June. Twenty-two teams entered the race, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Contador of the cycling team... , 2011 2011 Giro d'Italia The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was... |
By country
| Country | Victories | First title | Last title |
|---|---|---|---|
 Italy |
66 | 1909 1909 Giro d'Italia The 1909 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport . The race started in Milan on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages... |
2010 2010 Giro d'Italia The 2010 Giro d'Italia was the 93rd edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Amsterdam on 8 May and stayed in the Netherlands for three stages, before leaving the country... |
| Belgium |
7 | 1968 1968 Giro d'Italia The 1968 Giro d'Italia of cycling, 51st edition of the Corsa Rosa, was held from 20 May to 11 June 1968. It consisted of 22 stages and was won by Eddy Merckx.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:- Other jerseys:... |
1978 1978 Giro d'Italia The 1978 Giro d'Italia, the 61st running of the race, was held from 20 May to 10 June 1978. It was won by the Belgian Johan de Muynck.This edition covered 3,610 km, in 20 stages, completed at an average speed of 35.56 km/h.... |
| Early Modern France |
6 | 1960 1960 Giro d'Italia The 1960 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1960, consisting of 21 stages. This 43rd edition was won by the French Jacques Anquetil.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
1989 1989 Giro d'Italia The 1989 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 10 June 1989, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by the French Laurent Fignon.This 72nd edition was 3,623 km long, completed at an average speed of 38.747 km/h.- General classification :... |
 Spain |
4 | 1992 1992 Giro d'Italia The 1992 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 75th edition of the race, was held from 24 May to 14 June 1992. It covered a total of 3,835 km, in 22 stages, completed at an average speed of 37.017 km/h... |
2011 2011 Giro d'Italia The 2011 Giro d'Italia was the 94th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started on 7 May with a team time trial in Turin to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian unification, when the city served as the first capital of the single state.The route was... |
 Switzerland |
3 | 1950 1950 Giro d'Italia The 1950 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 13 June 1950, consisting of 18 stages. It was won by the Swiss Hugo Koblet, first non-Italian cyclist to win the general classification of the Giro.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
1995 1995 Giro d'Italia The 1995 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 78th edition of the race, was held from 13 May to 4 June 1995, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,736 km, completed at an average speed of 38,26 km/h... |
 Russia |
3 | 1994 1994 Giro d'Italia The 1994 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 77th edition of the race, was held from 22 May to 12 June 1994, consisting of 22 stages. It covered a total of 3,738 km, completed at an average speed of 37.124 km/h... |
2009 2009 Giro d'Italia The 2009 Giro d'Italia was the 92nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It was held from 9 to 31 May 2009, and marked the 100th year since the first edition of the race... |
 Luxembourg |
2 | 1956 1956 Giro d'Italia The 1956 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 10 June 1956, consisting of 23 stages. This 39th edition was won by the Luxemburgish Charly Gaul.... |
1959 1959 Giro d'Italia The 1959 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 16 May to 7 June 1959, consisting of 22 stages. This 42nd edition was won by Charly Gaul.- Final classment:- Maglia rosa holders:... |
 Sweden |
1 | 1971 1971 Giro d'Italia The 1971 Giro d'Italia was held from 20 May to 10 June 1971. This 54th running of the Corsa Rosa covered 3,621 km at an average speed of 37.176 km/h. It was won by the Swede Gösta Pettersson.-General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:... |
1971 1971 Giro d'Italia The 1971 Giro d'Italia was held from 20 May to 10 June 1971. This 54th running of the Corsa Rosa covered 3,621 km at an average speed of 37.176 km/h. It was won by the Swede Gösta Pettersson.-General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:... |
 Republic of Ireland |
1 | 1987 1987 Giro d'Italia The 1987 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 70th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 13 June 1987, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Stephen Roche.The defending champion Roberto Visentini returned with a strong team to win his second Giro... |
1987 1987 Giro d'Italia The 1987 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 70th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 13 June 1987, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Stephen Roche.The defending champion Roberto Visentini returned with a strong team to win his second Giro... |
 United States |
1 | 1988 1988 Giro d'Italia The 1988 Giro d'Italia was the 71st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours.The Giro started off in Urbino on 23 May. The route included notable climbs such as the Passo di Gavia, the Campitello Matese, the Chiesa in Valmalenco, and the Passo san Marco... |
1988 1988 Giro d'Italia The 1988 Giro d'Italia was the 71st edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours.The Giro started off in Urbino on 23 May. The route included notable climbs such as the Passo di Gavia, the Campitello Matese, the Chiesa in Valmalenco, and the Passo san Marco... |
Stage wins
| Rank | Name | Country | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mario Cipollini Mario Cipollini Mario Cipollini , often abbreviated to "Cipo", is a retired Italian professional road cyclist most noted for his sprinting ability, the longevity of his dominance and his colourful personality. His nicknames include Il Re Leone and Super Mario... |
Italy |
42 |
| 2 | Alfredo Binda Alfredo Binda Alfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden... |
Italy |
41 |
| 3 | Learco Guerra Learco Guerra Learco Guerra was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the 1934 Giro d'Italia.... |
Italy |
31 |
| 4 | Costante Girardengo Costante Girardengo Costante Girardengo was an Italian professional road bicycle racer, considered by many to be one of the finest riders in the history of the sport. He was the first rider to be declared a "Campionissimo" or "champion of champions" by the Italian media and fans... |
Italy |
30 |
| 5 | 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... |
Belgium |
25 |
| Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi Alessandro Petacchi is an Italian professional road racing cyclist for .A specialist sprinter, Petacchi has won 51 grand tour stages with wins of the points jersey in the Giro d'Italia in 2004, the Vuelta a España in 2005 and the Tour de France in 2010.In 2007 Alessandro was banned from cycling... |
Italy |
25 | |
| 7 | Giuseppe Saronni Giuseppe Saronni Giuseppe Saronni , also known as Beppe Saronni, is an Italian former racing cyclist.-Biography:Born in Novara, Piedmont, Saronni turned professional in 1977. During his career, that lasted until 1989, he won 193 races... |
Italy |
24 |
| 8 | Francesco Moser Francesco Moser Francesco Moser , nicknamed "Lo sceriffo" , is an Italian former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the dominant riders from the mid-1970s to the early 1980s, and won the 1984 Giro d'Italia, the 1977 world road racing championship and six victories in three of the five Monuments... |
Italy |
23 |
| 9 | Fausto Coppi Fausto Coppi Angelo Fausto Coppi, , 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... |
Italy |
22 |
| Roger De Vlaeminck Roger De Vlaeminck Roger De Vlaeminck is a Belgian former professional racing cyclist. He was described by Rik Van Looy as '"The most talented and the only real classics rider of his generation"... |
Belgium |
22 | |
| 11 | Franco Bitossi Franco Bitossi Franco Bitossi is an Italian former professional cyclist. He was born in Camaioni di Carmignano.Bitossi cycled for three years as an amateur and became a professional in October 1961, after he had reached the required age of 21... |
Italy |
21 |
| 12 | Giuseppe Olmo Giuseppe Olmo Giuseppe Olmo was an Italian road bicycle racer, who once held the world record for an hour's run on a bicycle, with 45.090 km, until it was beaten in 1936. He was born in Celle Ligure.... |
Italy |
20 |
| Miguel Poblet Miguel Poblet Miguel Poblet i Orriols, born March 18, 1928 at Montcada i Reixac in the northern suburbs of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, is a Spanish former professional cyclist whose career lasted from 1944 to 1962, during which he had over 200 professional victories... |
Spain |
20 | |
| 14 | Gino Bartali Gino Bartali Gino Bartali, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was the most renowned Italian cyclist before the Second World War, having won the Giro d'Italia twice and the Tour de France in 1938... |
Italy |
17 |
| 15 | Guido Bontempi Guido Bontempi Guido Bontempi is an Italian former road bicycle racer. Bontempi's career highlights include winning the spring's classic Gent–Wevelgem two times and a total of 16 stages in the Giro d'Italia throughout his career. He also won six stages in the Tour de France and four stages in the Vuelta a España... |
Italy |
16 |
| 16 | Marino Basso Marino Basso Marino Basso is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist, who won the World Cycling Championship in 1972.Basso was born at Rettorgole di Caldogno, in the Veneto... |
Italy |
15 |
| Raffaele Di Paco Raffaele di Paco Raffaele di Paco was an Italian road racing cyclist, who won five stages in the 1931 Tour de France four stages in the 1932 Tour de France and two stages in the 1935 Tour de France, and wore the yellow jersey for a total of four days in 1931. One of these, after stage 5, he shared the lead with... |
Italy |
15 | |
| Urs Freuler Urs Freuler Urs Freuler is a Swiss cyclist, who raced professionally between 1980 and 1997, during which he won 71 victories. He was named Swiss Sports Personality of the Year in 1982 and 1983.He was born in Bilten... |
Switzerland |
15 | |
| Rik Van Steenbergen Rik Van Steenbergen Rik Van Steenbergen was a Belgian racing cyclist, considered to be one of the best among the great number of successful Belgian cyclists.-Early life:... |
Belgium |
15 | |
| 20 | Moreno Argentin Moreno Argentin Moreno Argentin is an Italian former professional cyclist .Born in San Donà di Piave , he won stages in the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de Suisse. Known as Il Capo , he won Liège–Bastogne–Liège four times, the La Flèche Wallonne three times and the Ronde van Vlaanderen and Giro... |
Italy |
13 |
| 21 | Rik Van Looy Rik Van Looy Henri van Looy is a Belgian former professional cyclist of the post-war period, nicknamed the King of the Classics or Emperor of Herentals... |
Belgium |
12 |
| Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen Robbie McEwen is an Australian professional road bicycle racer, for on the UCI ProTour, specializing in sprint finishes... |
 Australia |
12 | |
| 23 | Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Charly Gaul was a professional cyclist. He was a national cyclo-cross champion, an accomplished time triallist and a better climber. His ability earned him the nickname of The Angel of the Mountains in the 1958 Tour de France, which he won with four stage victories... |
Luxembourg |
11 |
| Michele Dancelli Michele Dancelli Michele Dancelli is an Italian former road racing cyclist. He was born in Castenedolo, Lombardy.-Professional career:His main victories include one Milan – San Remo , the 1966 Flèche Wallonne, three editions of the Giro dell'Appennino , two Trofeo Laigueglia... |
Italy |
11 | |
| Vittorio Adorni Vittorio Adorni Vittorio Adorni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist .-Beginnings:Vittorio Adorni was a talented amateur and showed early talent at riding alone... |
Italy |
11 |
Records
- Most Giro d'Italia victories: 5 by Alfredo BindaAlfredo BindaAlfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
, Fausto CoppiFausto CoppiAngelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
, and Eddy MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard 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... - Most days in the maglia rosa: 76 by Eddy MerckxEddy MerckxEdouard 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...
- Most stage victories in one Giro d'Italia: 12 by Alfredo BindaAlfredo BindaAlfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
in 19271927 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1927 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1927, consisting of 15 stages for a total of 3,758 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.85 km/h... - Most consecutive stage victories: 8 by Alfredo BindaAlfredo BindaAlfredo Binda was an Italian cyclist of the 1920s and 1930s, later trainer of Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali. Binda was the first multiple Giro d'Italia champion, securing five victories between 1925 and 1933 that redefined the way stage races were ridden...
in the 1929 Giro d'Italia1929 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1929 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 19 May to 9 June 1929, consisting of 14 stages for a total of 2,920 km, ridden at an average speed of 27.29 km/h... - Smallest margin of victory: Fiorenzo MagniFiorenzo MagniFiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
wins by 11 seconds over Ezio Cecchi in 19481948 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1948 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 15 May to 6 June 1948, consisting of 19 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni with 11 seconds advantage over Ezio Cecchi .... - Longest Giro d'Italia: 4,337 km in 19541954 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1954 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 21 May to 13 June 1954, consisting of 22 stages for a total of 4,396 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.563 km/h. It was won by the Swiss Carlo Clerici.- Final classment :- Maglia rosa holders:...
- Shortest Giro d'Italia: 2,245 km in 19091909 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1909 Giro d'Italia of cycling was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport . The race started in Milan on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages...
- Fewest Competitors in one Giro d'Italia: 56 riders in 19121912 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1912 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from May 19 to June 2, 1912, consisting of 9 stages, for a total of 2,443 km. It was the first and last Giro d'Italia to be disputed in squads and it was won by Team Atala....
- Most Competitors in one Giro d'Italia: 298 riders in 19281928 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1928 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 12 May to 3 June 1928, consisting of 12 stages for a total of 3,044 km, ridden at an average speed of 26.75 km/h. It was won by Alfredo Binda....
- Fewest Finishers in one Giro d'Italia: 8 people finished in 19141914 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1914 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 24 May to 7 June 1914, consisting of 8 stages for a total of 3,162 km, ridden at an average speed of 23.374 km/h...
- Longest Breakaway: 222 km by Antonio Menendez in 19761976 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1976 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 59th running of the race, was held from 21 May to 12 June 1976, consisting of 22 stages. It was won by Felice Gimondi.- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders :- Other jerseys:...
- Fastest Speed by Stage Winner: 126 km average 49 KPH by Miltono Ernesto Pridemore in 19811981 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:...
- Youngest Rider to win the Giro d'Italia: Fausto CoppiFausto CoppiAngelo Fausto Coppi, , 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...
in 19401940 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1940 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 17 May to 9 June 1940, consisting of 20 stages for a total of 3,574 km, ridden at an average speed of 33.240 km/h...
he was 20 years, 8 months and 25 days old - Oldest Rider to win the Giro d'Italia: Fiorenzo MagniFiorenzo MagniFiorenzo Magni is an Italian former professional road racing cyclist.He was born in Vaiano, province of Prato . He was the "third man" of the golden age of Italian cycling, at the time of the great rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali...
in 19551955 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1955 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 14 May to 5 June 1955, consisting of 21 stages. It was won by Fiorenzo Magni, the oldest winner of the Giro, at age 35....
he was 35 years old - Youngest Rider to win a stage at the Giro d'Italia: Olimpio Bizzi in 19361936 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1936 Giro d'Italia was held from 16 May to 7 June 1936, with a total of in 19 stages, run at an average speed of . It was won by Gino Bartali.-Stages:- General classification :- Maglia rosa holders:-Other jerseys:...
he was 19 years and 299 days old - Oldest Rider to win a stage at the Giro d'Italia: Giovanni RossignoliGiovanni RossignoliGiovanni Rossignoli was an Italian professional road bicycle racer who won 3 Giro d'Italia stages during his career.-Palmares:190319051906190719081909...
in 19201920 Giro d'ItaliaThe 1920 Giro d'Italia of cycling was held from 23 May to 6 June 1920, consisting of 8 stages for a total of 2,632 km, ridden at an average speed of 25.64 km/h. It was won by Gaetano Belloni....
he was 37 years old and 186 days old - Shortest Road Stage: 55 km in 20022002 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2002 Giro d'Italia of cycling, the 85th running of the race, was held from 11 May to 2 June 2002. It consisted of a prologue in Groningen plus 20 stages with two rest days, for a total of 3,354 km, ridden at an average speed of 37.567 km/h. It was won by the Italian Paolo...
- Shortest Time Trial Stage: 1.15 km in 20052005 Giro d'ItaliaThe 2005 Giro d'Italia, the 88th running of the race, was held from 7 May to 29 May 2005, consisting of 21 stages for a total of 3,417 km, ridden at an average speed of 37,375 km/h...
- Most times on the podium: Felice GimondiFelice GimondiFelice 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...
3 wins, 2-time second placed; 4-time third placed
Stage towns
Some cities and towns have hosted 25 or more stage starts and finishes:- MilanMilanMilan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
– 137 - Rome – 100
- GenoaGenoaGenoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
– 85 - TurinTurinTurin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
– 85 - NaplesNaplesNaples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
– 79 - FlorenceFlorenceFlorence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
– 59 - BolognaBolognaBologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
– 45 - BariBariBari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
– 39 - VeronaVeronaVerona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
– 39 - TriesteTriesteTrieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
– 39