Bartali and Coppi together in the Dolomites (Giro d’Italia 1940)

Vitange cycling  image of the day on PelotonTales: Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi in the Dolomites at Giro d'Italia 1940.

Before Giro d'Italia 1940, Gino Bartali was already two-time Giro d'Italia (1936, 1937) and one-time Tour de France (1938) winner. He was the leader of the Legnano team in 1940, but had an ambicious and very talented young teammate, the 20 years old Fausto Coppi, who took the first place in the general classification in the 11th stage.

A small, but very important detail, that Gino Bartali collided with a dog and crashed badly on the second stage. Thus he wasn't in the best form during the rest of the race.

Neverteless, Bartali, who was persuaded not to quit the race despite his poor performance after his bad luck, helped Coppi through the almost disastrous 16th stage, when the neo-pro rider had stomach problems from some chicken salad.

Then he helped Coppi also on the next day, which happened to be the queen stage with  Falzarego, Passo Pordoi and Passo Sella. Coppi punctured twice, Bartali waited for him. But when Bartali had technical issues, the younger rider wanted to leave him behind. Only their director sportif, Pavesi was able to solve the problem. He chastened Coppi, and the young rider stopped and waiter for the teammate in the Italian champion jersey.

It might have been the first, but surely not the last time,  when a sport manager with diplomatic skills had to solve a delicate situation between the two legends. Also Alfredo Binda had similar problems during the legendary Tour de France in 1949. 

The 17th stage was the inauguration of the ascent Passo Pordoi. Gino Bartali crossed the top of the climb first.

Fausto Coppi won the Giro d'Italia in 1940.

Fun fact: he was already called up to serve in the Italian army in the spring, but was granted a 30-day deferment to be able to ride the Giro.