The Giro d'Italia (Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒiːro diˈtaːlja]; English: 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.[1]
<timeline> Preset = TimeVertical_OneBar_UnitYear ImageSize = width:200 height:1520 PlotArea = bottom:220 left:40 Period = from:1909 till:2013 ScaleMajor = start:1910 increment:5 ScaleMinor = start:1909 increment:1 TimeAxis = order:reverse
Colors =
id:canvas value:gray(0.9)
id:Italy value:rgb(0,0.9,0) legend:Italy_(67)
id:Belgium value:rgb(1,0,1) legend:Belgium_(7)
id:France value:rgb(0,0,1) legend:France_(6)
id:Switzerland value:rgb(0,0,0.6) legend:Switzerland_(3)
id:Spain value:rgb(1,0,0) legend:Spain_(3)
id:Russia value:rgb(1,0.5,0) legend:Russia_(3)
id:Luxembourg value:rgb(0,0.8,0.8) legend:Luxembourg_(2)
id:Sweden value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0) legend:Sweden_(1)
id:Ireland value:rgb(0.6,0,0) legend:Ireland_(1)
id:US value:rgb(1,1,0) legend:United_States_(1)
id:Canada value:rgb(1,0.7,1) legend:Canada_(1)
id:War value:rgb(1,1,1)
id:linemark value:gray(0.8)
id:linemark2 value:gray(0.9)
BackgroundColors = canvas:canvas
Legend = orientation:vertical columns:1 top:200 left: 45
PlotData =
shift:(20,0)
mark:(line,linemark)
anchor:till
from:1909 till:1910 text:"Luigi Ganna" color:Italy
from:1910 till:1911 text:"Carlo Galetti" color:Italy
from:1911 till:1912 text:"Carlo Galetti 2" color:Italy
from:1912 till:1913 text:"Team Atala" color:Italy
from:1913 till:1914 text:"Carlo Oriani" color:Italy
from:1914 till:1915 text:"Alfonso Calzolari" color:Italy
from:1915 till:1919 text:"World War I" color:War shift:(30,17)
from:1919 till:1920 text:"Costante Girardengo" color:Italy
from:1920 till:1921 text:"Gaetano Belloni" color:Italy
from:1921 till:1922 text:"Giovanni Brunero" color:Italy
from:1922 till:1923 text:"Giovanni Brunero 2" color:Italy
from:1923 till:1924 text:"Costante Girardengo 2" color:Italy
from:1924 till:1925 text:"Giuseppe Enrici" color:Italy
from:1925 till:1926 text:"Alfredo Binda" color:Italy
from:1926 till:1927 text:"Giovanni Brunero 3" color:Italy
from:1927 till:1928 text:"Alfredo Binda 2" color:Italy
from:1928 till:1929 text:"Alfredo Binda 3" color:Italy
from:1929 till:1930 text:"Alfredo Binda 4" color:Italy
from:1930 till:1931 text:"Luigi Marchisio" color:Italy
from:1931 till:1932 text:"Francesco Camusso" color:Italy
from:1932 till:1933 text:"Antonio Pesenti" color:Italy
from:1933 till:1934 text:"Alfredo Binda 5" color:Italy
from:1934 till:1935 text:"Learco Guerra" color:Italy
from:1935 till:1936 text:"Vasco Bergamaschi" color:Italy
from:1936 till:1937 text:"Gino Bartali" color:Italy
from:1937 till:1938 text:"Gino Bartali 2" color:Italy
from:1938 till:1939 text:"Giovanni Valetti" color:Italy
from:1939 till:1940 text:"Giovanni Valetti 2" color:Italy
from:1940 till:1941 text:"Fausto Coppi" color:Italy
from:1941 till:1946 text:"World War II" color:War shift:(30, 35)
from:1946 till:1947 text:"Gino Bartali 3" color:Italy
from:1947 till:1948 text:"Fausto Coppi 2" color:Italy
from:1948 till:1949 text:"Fiorenzo Magni" color:Italy
from:1949 till:1950 text:"Fausto Coppi 3" color:Italy mark:(line,linemark2)
from:1950 till:1951 text:"Hugo Koblet" color:Switzerland
from:1951 till:1952 text:"Fiorenzo Magni 2" color:Italy
from:1952 till:1953 text:"Fausto Coppi 4" color:Italy
from:1953 till:1954 text:"Fausto Coppi 5" color:Italy
from:1954 till:1955 text:"Carlo Clerici" color:Switzerland
from:1955 till:1956 text:"Fiorenzo Magni 3" color:Italy
from:1956 till:1957 text:"Charly Gaul" color:Luxembourg
from:1957 till:1958 text:"Gastone Nencini" color:Italy
from:1958 till:1959 text:"Ercole Baldini" color:Italy
from:1959 till:1960 text:"Charly Gaul 2" color:Luxembourg
from:1960 till:1961 text:"Jacques Anquetil" color:France
from:1961 till:1962 text:"Arnaldo Pambianco" color:Italy
from:1962 till:1963 text:"Franco Balmamion" color:Italy
from:1963 till:1964 text:"Franco Balmamion 2" color:Italy
from:1964 till:1965 text:"Jacques Anquetil 2" color:France
from:1965 till:1966 text:"Vittorio Adorni" color:Italy
from:1966 till:1967 text:"Gianni Motta" color:Italy
from:1967 till:1968 text:"Felice Gimondi" color:Italy
from:1968 till:1969 text:"Eddy Merckx" color:Belgium
from:1969 till:1970 text:"Felice Gimondi 2" color:Italy
from:1970 till:1971 text:"Eddy Merckx 2" color:Belgium
from:1971 till:1972 text:"Gösta Pettersson" color:Sweden
from:1972 till:1973 text:"Eddy Merckx 3" color:Belgium
from:1973 till:1974 text:"Eddy Merckx 4" color:Belgium
from:1974 till:1975 text:"Eddy Merckx 5" color:Belgium
from:1975 till:1976 text:"Fausto Bertoglio" color:Italy
from:1976 till:1977 text:"Felice Gimondi 3" color:Italy
from:1977 till:1978 text:"Michel Pollentier" color:Belgium
from:1978 till:1979 text:"Johan De Muynck" color:Belgium
from:1979 till:1980 text:"Giuseppe Saronni" color:Italy
from:1980 till:1981 text:"Bernard Hinault" color:France
from:1981 till:1982 text:"Giovanni Battaglin" color:Italy
from:1982 till:1983 text:"Bernard Hinault 2" color:France
from:1983 till:1984 text:"Giuseppe Saronni 2" color:Italy
from:1984 till:1985 text:"Francesco Moser" color:Italy
from:1985 till:1986 text:"Bernard Hinault 3" color:France
from:1986 till:1987 text:"Roberto Visentini" color:Italy
from:1987 till:1988 text:"Stephen Roche" color:Ireland
from:1988 till:1989 text:"Andy Hampsten" color:US
from:1989 till:1990 text:"[[Laurent Fignon]" color:France
from:1990 till:1991 text:"Gianni Bugno" color:Italy
from:1991 till:1992 text:"Franco Chioccioli" color:Italy
from:1992 till:1993 text:"Miguel Induráin" color:Spain
from:1993 till:1994 text:"Miguel Induráin 2" color:Spain
from:1994 till:1995 text:"Evgeni Berzin" color:Russia
from:1995 till:1996 text:"Tony Rominger" color:Switzerland
from:1996 till:1997 text:"Pavel Tonkov" color:Russia
from:1997 till:1998 text:"Ivan Gotti" color:Italy
from:1998 till:1999 text:"Marco Pantani" color:Italy
from:1999 till:2000 text:"Ivan Gotti 2" color:Italy
from:2000 till:2001 text:"Stefano Garzelli" color:Italy
from:2001 till:2002 text:"Gilberto Simoni" color:Italy
from:2002 till:2003 text:"Paolo Savoldelli" color:Italy
from:2003 till:2004 text:"Gilberto Simoni 2" color:Italy
from:2004 till:2005 text:"Damiano Cunego" color:Italy
from:2005 till:2006 text:"Paolo Savoldelli 2" color:Italy
from:2006 till:2007 text:"Ivan Basso" color:Italy
from:2007 till:2008 text:"Danilo Di Luca" color:Italy
from:2008 till:2009 text:"Alberto Contador" color:Spain
from:2009 till:2010 text:"Denis Menchov" color:Russia
from:2010 till:2011 text:"Ivan Basso 2" color:Italy
from:2011 till:2012 text:"Michele Scarponi" color:Italy
from:2012 till:2013 text:"Ryder Hesjedal" color:Canada
</timeline>
The origin of the Giro d'Italia is similar to that of the Tour de France. It began because of a competition between two newspapers, La Gazzetta dello Sport and Corriere della Sera. La Gazzetta dello Sport 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. [2][3]
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)[4].
During this period (and until 1950 with the victory of the Swiss Hugo Koblet), 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.
Nicknamed the sitting climber", Alfredo Binda, 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[5][3].
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.[6] 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[7] 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.[7]
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[7] 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.[8] 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.[9]
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.[10]
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.[8] The Italian writer Dino Buzzati then special envoy of the Corriere della Sera wrote about the victory of Coppi:
| “ |
There is something moving in this slender young man who rides the mountains, one after another, with nothing but the beating of his heart. |
” |
|
—Dino Buzzati[11]
|
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.[12]
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.[13]
Two Swiss riders took first and second place at the 37th Giro, 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.[14] 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 (14 °F). Over 60 riders left the race, including the rider with the pink jersey, Pasquale Fornara.[15] 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:
| “ |
Charly Gaul won the victory more comprehensive than the cyclist has achieved in one day ... It is a feat unprecedented in modern cycling. This echoes the character of the mountain stages of prehistoric times. He took it to the celestial cataclysm, but also the class very rare and very special ... the small Luxembourg |
” |
|
—Jacques Goddet
|
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 competed 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.
Except for a few interludes Charly Gaul and Jacques Anquetil, the Giro d’Italia remains a domestic matter. Success by winning five between 1968 and 1974, Eddy Merckx will then give another dimension to the Giro, making almost the equal of the Tour de France champion and inspiring other non-Italian. In 1968, the Cannibal joined the Italian team Faema. His victory was his first victory in a grand tour, announcing a long reign. The following year, he tested positive for a stimulant and excluded from the race but the union cyclists federation reversed his sentence. The Belgian returns to its domination in 1970 that approval from three other hits (1972, 1973, 1974). Merckx is the man who spent the most days with the leader's jersey on the shoulders (78).
Bernard Hinault had already won two Tours de France (1978, 1979) and one Vuelta a España (1978) when he appeared on the roads of the Giro for the first time in 1980. His first victory was a masterful one. The Badger took the overall lead at the end of three days and became the equal of Merckx, Gimondi, and Anquetil in winning all three grand tours. The mighty Breton would participate in two more tours of Italy (1982, 1985), each time emerging victorious, and each time making the Giro-Tour double. Laurent Fignon succeeded him in 1989 as the next -- and, to this day, still the last -- French winner of the Giro d’Italia.
The field is 2600 m up when a violent snow storm shakes in the neck that should lead to the Bormio. The conditions are hellish, the scenery Himalayan. No one predicted the frigid temperatures. Trembling with cold, the cyclists slow to 15km/h due to the blinding snow. Upon arrival, hot drinks and booze await the survivors. Guests of the VIP areas are transferred to warm the refrigerated pack. Second behind the Dutch Erik Breukink, Andrew Hampsten took the lead and became the first American winner of the Giro d'Italia.
In the first half of the year 1990 were many duels between Gianni Bugno, Claudio Chiappucci and Franco Chioccioli, but after winning the Tour de France, was the Spaniard Miguel Indurain to dominate the Italian race by winning the time trial stages, specialty in which he was master and defending uphill: so he conquered the speed 1992 and 1993 and in the latter was stumped by Latvian Piotr Ugrumov, which came second in less than a minute. In 1994 the Giro went to Yevgeny Berzin: the Russian took the lead in the fourth stage Campitello Matese and a few days later consolidated the advantage by winning the chronology of Follonica, after the stages for sprinters reached the climbs here are put on display Pantani winning at Merano and to 'Aprica, Berzin, however, sealed the record winning another test against time, he left behind rivals and won the Giro. After the success of Tony Rominger, Tonkov, and Ivan Gotti, the 1998 Giro was the year of the "Pirate" Pantani, who fought and won the Giro and Tonkov Tour de France. In the 1999 Giro Marco Pantani set off as the favorite managed to get ahead, but just a few steps from the end was stopped after the village of Madonna di Campiglio for values of hematocrit out of the normal ranges. The tour went to Gotti that repeated the success of 1997.
The Giro 2000 took off from Rome to celebrate the Jubilee. After a first week dedicated to the sprinters, and soon came the first mountains Francesco Casagrande took the pink jersey on 'Abetone unplugging of 1'39"early opponents, including Stefano Garzelli. Casagrande could control the race despite the attacks of Gilberto Simoni and Garzelli, so the race was decided in the penultimate stage time trial of the Sestriere: Garzelli, who should recover 25", delivered at a Tuscan gap of 1'52”and won the Giro. Third Simoni closed.
The year after the race started from Pescara, already the fifth day, on the first climb, a few big were already stayed too long, and the pink jersey went to Dario Frigo. The general led the Varese for nine days, until the stage against dolomite with Marmolada and Pordoi On that day, Simoni pulled out all competitors and took the symbol of leadership, leaving the stage victory to Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio. Fridge then tried to overtake in the time trial Salo, but in vain, then, between 6 and 7 June, here are the searches of NAS to Imperia: Fridge in the room were found performance-enhancing drugs, the cyclist was consequently removed from the race. The stage dell'indomani was canceled, two days after Simoni also won the fraction of Arona thus sealing the ultimate success in the Giro 2001.
The Hawk, winner of the 2002 and 2005
In 2002 the race started in the Netherlands and walked Germany, Belgium, France and Luxembourg to celebrate the European Union. The protagonist was Garzelli Tour start, but the Varese, in pink from the third day, was found positive to a banned diuretic. The symbol of supremacy passed to German Jens Heppner, which kept him for ten days. A Campitello Matese Simoni won, but he was disqualified for a positive to cocaine, and another big, Casagrande, had to leave the race, punished for misconduct. In the last stage alpine Paolo Savoldelli managed to pull his rival Tyler Hamilton and take the pink jersey at Cadel Evans, which instead slipped out of the Top 10, the last time trial resisted and was able to so celebrate the final victory, the first for him.
The next year, after an opening suitable for sprinters, the Terminillo Garzelli finished a successful stage and the pink jersey. In the village of Faenza went on the attack Simoni, Garzelli able to detach and hand him the symbol of supremacy. The race reached the Alps, on the Zoncolan Simoni broke away and won at all solitary even after imposing all 'Alpe di Pampeago. With the fraction of Toce Falls consolidated the already clear advantage, winning his second tour in three years.
At the start of the 2004 Giro d'Italia, the race paid its respects to Marco Pantani, who had died tragically a few months before. The favorites at the start were Garzelli, Simoni, Yaroslav Popovych who had been on the podium the year before. After the prologue and the first flat stage, Damiano Cunego won the Stage 2 to Pontremoli. The next stage saw Simoni win the stage and with it the pink jersey, which he retained until the Stage 7, when Cunego won in Montevergine di Mercogliano and assumed the overall lead. Cunego managed to keep the shirt during the flat stages until the Stage 13 time trial in Trieste. The stage was won by the Ukrainian time trial specialist Serhij Hončar and the pick jersey transferred to his fellow countryman Popovych, who managed to hold it as the race briefly visited Croatia. On the return to Italy, Cunego to won Stage 16 at Falzes to reclaim the lead in the overall standings. Stages 17, 18 and 19 saw wins for Tonkov, Cunego and Garzelli respectively. In these stages, Cunego increased his lead on Hončar to 2' 02". There was no change in the overall rankings on the final stage into Milan, where Alessandro Petacchi claimed his ninth sprint victory of the Giro. Cunego therefore finished with just over two minutes on Hončar, with Garzelli three seconds behind the Ukrainian. Dario Cioni and Cunego's team mate Simoni finished in 4th and 5th respectively.
After the prologue and the first fractions were Paolo Bettini and Danilo Di Luca to exchange the pink jersey in the early stages. The turning point was there in the stage of Zoldo High when Savoldelli won the village and Ivan Basso temporary leadership. In the thirteenth stage won by Ivan Parra Savoldelli foisted several seconds to Basso and Di Luca also earned several seconds on him thanks to unhealthy eating on the day before. At the stage of Limone Piemonte Low won both the village and Simoni is José Rujano guadagnarano precious seconds on Di Luca and Savoldelli. In the trial of Torino Basso managed to win and retrieve seconds while the whole advantage of Simoni and Rujano had taken in the previous stage was canceled by Savoldelli. At the next stage in Sestriere Rujano took precious seconds on Simoni, Di Luca and Savoldelli and brought his handicap from 3 'to 45 but could not anymore. The tour went to Savoldelli, who won ahead of Simoni and Di Luca Rujano. Hončar podium closed the year before the sixth. Bass did not reach the top 10.
Ivan Basso, winner 2006 and 2010
The tour edition 2006 parts Seraing in Belgium in memory of miners killed in the 1956. The favorites in Seraing were Savoldelli, Di Luca, Cunego, Basso and Simoni. Savoldelli won the prologue, retained the pink jersey but not for long. After the first week Low broke dominating the race: he won the Maielletta and after having maintained the advantage already clear, came behind Jan Ullrich in the time trial of Pontedera increasing the advantage. A La Thuile Bass stood behind Leonardo Piepoli detaching more and more revelation Spanish José Enrique Gutiérrez and Savoldelli. A Trent Bass sealed its record by winning the stage ahead of Simoni and Piepoli and increasing the gap between himself and rivals in the standings. In the next village Low left the stage victory in Piepoli constantly increasing his lead over Gutierrez. In the nineteenth fraction Jens Voigt, Low-mate, left the victory to his companion to escape Juan Manuel Gárate, after being at the wheel all day. At the stage of 'Aprica Simoni and Cunego held the wheel of Basso in the final they broke away and went on to win solo. That victory, however, unleashed the fury of Gilberto Simoni, who, after remaining with him on the Mortirolo, Basso said that she would ask him to wait on the way down. Basso won the Giro so by 2006, ruling by almost 10 'of Gutiérrez, 12' of Simoni and Savoldelli and Cunego more detached.
Sixteen years later, he departed again from Sardinia, with a team time trial from Caprera in La Maddalena, to commemorate the 200 years since the birth of Garibaldi. After an exchange of leadership in the early stages with Enrico Gasparotto and Di Luca was Marco Pinotti to gain the supremacy. Fell to the eleventh stage Andrea Noah wear the pink jersey which he held for little: a Briançon Di Luca won took home the jersey. After some localities it is noted Eddy Mazzoleni, which seeks to undermine Di Luca together with a young Luxembourg that will prove to be a great talent, Andy Schleck. The turning point came on as expected Monte Zoncolan: Simoni wins by beating the companion Piepoli and Schleck who earns on Di Luca and Mazzoleni. In practice, the Giro Di Luca finished there decreeing sample before Schleck, Mazzoleni, Simoni, Cunego, and Riccardo Riccò.
Alberto Contador riding a time trial during the 2008 Giro d'Italia.
The Giro started by Sicily. Christian Vande Velde, Pellizotti and Giovanni Visconti are stalked in the first week in the league tables. Here come the uphill stages, and is Emanuele Sella, surprisingly, to get success at Pass Pampeago and Fedaia. Despite attacks Pellizotti, Simoni, Sella and especially dell'agguerito Riccò, Contador defends himself in the uphill stages managing to keep a minimal advantage to the final time trial when tears literally Riccò that 4 seconds is found to have almost 2 minutes disadvantage. Marzio Bruseghin uses the stopwatch to keep the third place of Pellizotti, Denis Menchov, Sella, Simoni and Di Luca eighth-tenth.
The edition 2009 is the Centennial, which sees the departure of Venice and the arrival of race in pink Rome. After the team time trial and the first two stages in the plains, in the fourth stage shows up Di Luca wins the fraction of San Martino di Castrozza and Denis Menchov wins to '[[Seiser Alm] ]. Di Luca retains pink jersey in the flat stages and Pinerolo increases the gap by taking home his rival wins the stage. In the trial of Riomaggiore Menchov is to prevail: it recovers the gap of 1'20 and also earns about thirty seconds from Di Luca, who is now also hunted by Levi Leipheimer. On Monte Petrano Menchov and Di Luca will do battle with the Russian who manages to earn some money with rebates. Luke's comeback secondment and leads to less than 20 seconds until the clock Rome when the Tsar (although it is also dropped) it detaches and wins his first Giro. Behind them Pellizotti, Carlos Sastre, Basso, Leipheimer and Garzelli. The ranking is then rewritten by the courts because of disqualification for doping Di Luca, the first and then Pellizzotti. In second place Spaniard Carlos Sastre rooms and halls on the third (fifth) Ivan Basso.
It started in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The favorites for the podium were Bradley Wiggins, Ivan Basso, Cadel Evans, Aleksandr Vinokurov, Carlos Sastre and Stefano Garzelli. In the prologue, Wiggins has the best prevailing mainly on rival Evans. In the next village, leaving the Dutch Wiggins falls top right to Evans who will lose the next day against Vinokurov. After the team time trial (lost by the Sky, the team of Wiggins, a hole) becomes Vincenzo Nibali, Low wingman, called at the last minute to do the Giro, the new leader of race. At the stage of Montalcino Vinokurov takes the pink jersey and holds up to 'Eagle come to life when it leaves an escape dustbin of 52 runners, including some of the best climbers, including Richie Porte, Runner Saxo Bank, which is leading the race. On Monte Grappa Nibali all off and goes to take a well deserved victory and the pink jersey goes to David Arroyo (also in the escape drum) runner with good climbing ability. Arroyo resists Low Zoncolan after the time trial on the Plan de Corones but must give the shirt to Bass after the village to 'Aprica where the trio Nibali-Arroyo-Basso off the rest of the group and goes to fly away with a good advantage over rivals. The last stage in the ascent, was won by Johann Tschopp, and the final time trial will further increase the advantage between Basso and Arroyo. Nibali concludes the third, fourth Scarponi takes behind Evans, Vinokurov, Doors and Sastre. Pinotti concluded a very able and ninth minion of Liquigas-Doimo, Robert Kiserlovski can into the top 10.
Michele Scarponi, the new winner
The tour of the 150 years of unity of Italy, characterized by great climbs and a few stages for sprinters, starts from Venaria Reale in Turin with a team time trial won by HTC-Highroad, which delivers leadership Marco Pinotti, with favorites, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali, Denis Menchov, Roman Kreuziger, who do not lose particular soil from each other. The 3rd stage disrupts the race to the death downhill to Rapallo Wouter Weylandt, rider of Leopard-Trek, which is why the day after the stage was neutralized with, for the record, Millar pink jersey. This led to the first uphill finish in Montevergine di Mercogliano the 7th stage, the triumphant Belgian Bart De Clercq Scarponi and Kreuziger of the governing group. Contador start earning his lead again on the breakout of Tropea (8th stage) for sprinters on the paper, continuing the next day on Mount Etna, where he remained planted boots in an attempt to react to the release of the Spanish that is to triumph after arrival the only José Rujano, surprise of the race, with Nibali and other favorites at 50.”At the end of the second week Contador gives the finishing stroke to the first race with a click on the Grossglockner (13th stage), rectum still the only Rujano then stage winner, breaking the top group, with a second on the Zoncolan (14th stage reduced by eliminating the Crostis for alleged dangerousness), this time content from Nibali gaining on all the big names, and finally also on Gardeccia (15th stage), where he hit only boots.
The time trial of the Spanish Nevegal sees further extend the order of Nibali and boots, as well as the arrival at Sestriere, the penultimate stage, which confirms the overall standings. The triumph in Milan is crowned by the final time trial, which also sees the duel between Scarponi and Nibali for second place, won by the first (6'10”), followed in rank by John Gadret, Joaquim Rodriguez, Kreuziger, Rujano, Menchov, Steven Kruijswijk and Siŭcoŭ Bottom. After the disqualification of Contador for doping the second place finisher, Michele Scarponi, was proclaimed the winner.
Ryder Hesjedal from Victoria, British Columbia became the first Canadian winner of any Grand Tour event[16] with his 16 second victory over Joaquim Rodriguez of Spain. His victory was achieved on the final day of the race --only the second time this has been accomplished-- in the time trial in Milan, when he overcame Rodriguez's lead of 31 seconds.
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 Sport 's pink newsprint. The leader of the mountains classification was designated by a green jersey, the maglia verde, from 1974 to 2011, but this changed to blue in 2012 as maglia azzurra. 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).
The
maglia rosa from the 88th edition of the race in 2005.
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.
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 France.
- 5 wins: Alfredo Binda (1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933), Fausto Coppi (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), Eddy Merckx (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974)
- 3 wins: Giovanni Brunero (1921, 1922, 1926), Gino Bartali (1936, 1937, 1946), Fiorenzo Magni (1948, 1951, 1955), Felice Gimondi (1967, 1969, 1976), Bernard Hinault (1980, 1982, 1985)
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 climbers' jersey is worn by the rider who, at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of climbing points. If a rider leads two or more of the categories, the climbers' jersey is worn by the rider in second, or third, place in that contest. 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 France, 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.[17] In 2011, this classification was won by Stefano Garzelli.
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 France, 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 Michele Scarponi.
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.
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 2011 it was won by Roman Kreuziger.
For nearly half a century, the Giro started and finished by Milan, 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 the location of 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 some stages have departure or conclusion locations in other countries, especially in neighbouring countries such as San Marino, France, Monaco, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia. Some stages have been held in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany (2002 and 2006), and Greece (1996).
The 2012 edition of the Giro started in Denmark, with stages in Herning (hometown of Bjarne Riis) and Horsens.[18]
| Cyclist |
Total |
Years |
 Binda, AlfredoAlfredo Binda (ITA) |
5 |
1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933 |
| Coppi, FaustoFausto Coppi (ITA) |
5 |
1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953 |
 Merckx, EddyEddy Merckx (BEL) |
5 |
1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974 |
| Brunero, GiovanniGiovanni Brunero (ITA) |
3 |
1921, 1922, 1926 |
| Bartali, GinoGino Bartali (ITA) |
3 |
1936, 1937, 1946 |
| Magni, FiorenzoFiorenzo Magni (ITA) |
3 |
1948, 1951, 1955 |
| Gimondi, FeliceFelice Gimondi (ITA) |
3 |
1967, 1969, 1976 |
 Hinault, BernardBernard Hinault (FRA) |
3 |
1980, 1982, 1985 |
| Galetti, CarloCarlo Galetti (ITA) |
2 |
1910, 1911 |
| Girardengo, CostanteCostante Girardengo (ITA) |
2 |
1919, 1923 |
| Valetti, GiovanniGiovanni Valetti (ITA) |
2 |
1938, 1939 |
 Gaul, CharlyCharly Gaul (LUX) |
2 |
1956, 1959 |
| Anquetil, JacquesJacques Anquetil (FRA) |
2 |
1960, 1964 |
| Balmamion, FrancoFranco Balmamion (ITA) |
2 |
1962, 1963 |
| Saronni, GiuseppeGiuseppe Saronni (ITA) |
2 |
1979, 1983 |
 Indurain, MiguelMiguel Indurain (ESP) |
2 |
1992, 1993 |
| Gotti, IvanIvan Gotti (ITA) |
2 |
1997, 1999 |
| Simoni, GilbertoGilberto Simoni (ITA) |
2 |
2001, 2003 |
| Savoldelli, PaoloPaolo Savoldelli (ITA) |
2 |
2002, 2005 |
| Basso, IvanIvan Basso (ITA) |
2 |
2006, 2010 |
[20]
[20]
[20]
Some cities and towns have hosted 25 or more stage starts and finishes:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*This Giro was contested solely by teams, with no individual classification
|
|
.jpg)
Giro d'Italia winners of the 
Winners of the 
Giro d'Italia Winners of the 
