Heavy snowfall often determinates the outcome of a road cycling race during early springtime. But even among the stories about the heroic efforts of struggling through the otherwise beautiful white obstacle the 4th edition of Milano-Sanremo (held on 4th April 1910) has its own legendary place. This was the race that
only four riders finished.
Actually, at the end of the day, seven riders crossed the finish line, but theee of them were disqualified, thus the official result includes only four cyclists.
However, the race started with 63 riders at 6 a.m on 4th April 1910. A rainy day at the beginning, but soon snow started falling and glacial wind blowing. Many of the cyclists turned back as soon as they heard the news about the deterioratig weather conditions. But others, like Cyrille Van Hauwaert, the winner of a cold Milano-Sanremo in 1908, Octave Lapize, Luigi Ganna, Ernest Paul and Eugène Christophe continued the race.
The Turchino Pass seemed to be the hardest part of the race for many of them. As Eugène Christophe later described1 ,
the tunnel of the pass served as a temporary shelter.
But it might have been even harder to leave the place and try to ride through the 20-25 cm thick snow. Cyclists had to get off their bike quite often. Christophe remembered having an unpleasant stomach cramp and collapsing on a rock. The danger of getting frozen was very real.
There were a few houses nearby, and Christophe had to decide either to continue or to give up the race. The first option was quite tempting, because he was promised to get his payment doubled by his Alcyon-Dunlop team after a successful participation. On the other hand, it was a decision almost about life and death.
Then a man came out from an inn and carried Christophe in the warm and safe place. Christophe’s wet clothes were stripped off, he was wrapped in a dry and warm blanket. After a quick recovery he was determinate to continue the race. Meanwhile Cyrill Van Hauwaert and Ernest Paul arrived in the same inn. Paul called Christophe crazy when it became clear that the Frenchman is really about to continue the race.
Aftrr 12 hours and 24 minutes struggle Eugène Christophe crossed the finish line in Sanremo. Luigi Ganna arrived second almost 40 minutes later, but he was disqualified by putting his bike on a car and just walking on the Turchino. Another Italian rider was disqualified for taking the train between Pavia and Novi Ligure. The third cyclist finished the race but was not included in the end result had the bad luck arriving in Sanremo after the conrol point was closed.
Eugène Christophe paid a big prize for his victory, bcause he spent the next month in hospital and needed two years to regain his best shape.
Result of the 4th Milano-Sanremo
1 Eugène Christophe 12h 24′ 00″
2 Giovanni Cocchi + 1h 01′ 00″
3 Giovanni Marchese + 1h 17′ 00″
4 Enrico Sala +2h 06′ 00″
- see more in Peter Cossins: The Monuments.The Grit and the Glory of Cycling’s Greatest One-Day Races. Bloomsbury Sport , 2023 [↩]