When Giro d’Italia visited Etna

Cima Coppi is the highest peak of the Giro d’Italia every year. The special prize was named after Fausto Coppi and was introduced in 1965. 

Mario Cipollini won the most Giro d’Italia stages  He became the sole record holder on the 9th stage of Giro d’ Italia in 2003See the list of the top 25 riders:Mario Cipollini 42Alfredo Binda  41Learco Guerra  31Costante Girardengo  30Eddy Merckx  25Giuseppe Saronni  24Francesco Moser  23Roger De Vlaeminck 22Alessandro Petacchi 22Fausto Coppi  22Franco Bitossi  20Miguel Poblet … Read more

Fausto Coppi was the first rider to win the Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France in the same year (1949) The list of the riders Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1949 Fausto Coppi (ITA) 1952 Jacques Anquetil (FRA) 1964 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1970 Eddy Merckx (BEL) 1972 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1982 Bernard Hinault (FRA) 1985 Miguel … Read more

Olimpio Bizzi is the younges stage winner ever with19 years  and 229 days.He won the 8th stage at Giro d’Italia 1936.Mark Cavendish was38 years and 7 daysold, when he crossed the finish line first in the last stage of Giro d’Italia 2023. 

The pink jersey was introduced to the Giro d’Italia during the race in 1931. The first wearer was Learco Guerra (nickname: “The Human Locomotive”).

Vicente López Carril 1971 Pescasseroli – Campo Imperatore 198 km Franco Chioccioli 1985 Frosinone – Campo Imperatore 195 km John Carlsen 1989 Roma – Campo Imperatore 179 km Marco Pantani 1999 Pescara – Campo Imperatore 253 Simon Yates 2018 Pesco Sannita – Campo Imperatore 224 km Davide Bais 2023 Capua – Campo Imperatore 218 km … Read more

In 2022 Giro d’Italia visits Etna on the 4th stage, right after the first rest day (following the opening stages in Hungary) Although it’s a place well known worldwide, Giro d’Italia visited it only a few times. List of stages and stage winners on Etna at the Giro d’Italia 1967 Stage 7 Catani -Etna (198 … Read more

Vuelta a Espana was a sping race for decades, the first autumn edition was held in 1995, and its original schedules were usually very close to Giro d’Italia. Little wonder, that the first Giro-Vuelta happened only in 1973, and the first rider to achieve it was Eddy Merkcx. (Just for the record: Fausto Coppi managed … Read more

Every road cycling legend, every great champion has that first epic moment that defines their career. The moment that takes everyone by surprise, yet deep down, everyone knows this cyclist was always capable to do it. In 1967 Eddy Merckx was already a two-time  Milano-Sanremo champion, after he repeated his success in previous year. He … Read more

You might have always wondered what is that strange picture of Fiorenzo Magni holding something between his teeth with an heroic effort displayed on his face. As most of the legendary cycling images, this one has its extraordinary backstory too. According to the pre-race predictions, Giro d’Italia 1956 was dubbed as the fight between the … Read more

Alfredo Binda was the scond Campionissimo in the history of Italian road cycling. He was the first rider to win 4 Giro d’Italia titles (1925, 1927, 1928, 1929). This picture was taken during the Giro d’Italia in 1929. After Binda has won his record breaking 4th Giro d’Italia, the organizers were worried about the race … Read more

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 … Read more

Between 1946 and 1951 a special jersey was awarded to the last cyclist in the general classification of the Giro d ‘Italia, called Maglia Nera. The idea came from a story in the 1920s. A football player, called Giuseppe Ticozzelli was such a cycling enthusiast, that he attended the race as an individual rider in … Read more

Gianni Motta, Vittorio Adorni, Jacques Anquetil and Felice Gimondi are having fun at the Giro d’Italia in 1966. The race was won by Gianni Motta ahead of Italo Zilioli and Jacques Anquetil. Related blogpost(s) Iconic Places: Puy de Dôme Cycling Who’s Who: Vittorio Adorni The first Vuelta-Tour double (Jacques Anquetil, 1963)    

Alfredo Binda ( 1902-1986), the second “Campionissimo”of the Italian cycling dominated at the Giro d’Italia in the second half of the 1920s. In 1929 he managed to win the race for the 4th time (after 1925, 1927 and 1928). This was a new record then.  

Passo dello Stelvio (Stelvio Pass) is a 2757 m high pass in the Alps. The ascent was introduced to the Giro d’Italia in 1953. That stage was won by Fausto Coppi

Cycling in extreme weather: Charly Gaul on the famous stage 20 up to Monte Bondone at the Giro d’Italia 1956   Race director Vincenzo Torriani was asked to cancel the stage due to the rough weather conditions were forecasted. But he declined it, he may have thought, this could make the unexciting race exciting again. … Read more

Giovanni Gerbi (1885-1955) is the oldest contestant in the history of Giro d’Italia ever. He was 47 years old, when he attended his last Giro in 1932. The Red Devil Giovanni Gerbi, who earned the nickname “Red Devil” (Diavolo Rosso) was one of the most iconic figures of road cycling races in the early years … Read more