Tirreno-Adriarico was created by the Lazio-based cycling club Forze Sportive Romane to balance the uneven situation, that most of the important Italian cycling races were held in Northern Italy.
On the other hand, one particular cycling race located in Northern Italy played an important role in creating Tirreno-Adriatico. Since 1953 there was no Italian winner at Milano-Sanremo, thus the organizers thought, this race would serve for the riders as an excellent prepararion.
Tirreno-Adriatico was originally dubbed as “Three days of the South” (“Tre Giorni del Sud”). According to its nickname, the fist edition, held between 11 and 13 March in 1966, included 3 stages. But the second edition was split into 5 stages already.
The very first stage of Tirreno-Adriatico was 199 km long, and won by Swiss cyclist Rolf Maurer.
Dino Zandegu was the overall winner.
(Lead picture: Rolf Maurer at a different event in 1961)