Gito d’Italia1940 started in the shadow of World War II. Even later winner of the race, Fausto Coppi was already called in the Italian army. But of course, on the 17th of May, at the beginning of the 28th Giro d’Italia nobody suspected that the 20 years old gregario of Gino Bartali would make road cycling history a few weeks later.
It started with the bad luck of Bartali, who crashed during the second stage, while Coppi was able to ride with the leading group and finished second. Soon the hierarchy within the Legnano team changed. It was all about riding for Coppi’s success.
Coppi was among the top riders in the general classification since the second stage, but it took him nine more days to win his first stage and take over the lead.
The 11th stage between Florence and Modena was 184 km, relatively short, considering that in the first half the 20th century stages were around 250-300 km long.
It was a stormy day with rain and lighnings, a scenario would fit into an ancien Greek myth, into a story when a young and new god appears among people.
The stage included three major ascents. Coppi was in the leading group, but had to drop all the other riders. On the ascent of Abetone he attacked again and again till he was able to ride away from the others.
This was Coppi’s first stage victory.
Although 11 days later he became the youngest Giro d’Italia winner ever, Coppi is not the youngest stage winner at the Giro d’Italia. That record is held by Olimpio Bizzi since 1936.