Category Archives: Giro d’Italia

Coppi and Bartali smoking cigars – “Totò al Giro d’Italia

Today’s historic photo of the day: Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali smoking cigars in “Totò al Giro d’Italia” (Totò in Giro d’Italia), a 1948 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Mattoli and starring Totò.

Ciao, Alfredo Martini

We lost Alfredo Martini, a pro cyclist from Fausto Coppi‘s era, yesterday (August 25, 2014). Martini was born on 18 February 1921 in Florence, Tuscany. He was a professional between 1941 and 1957. He won the Tour of the Apennines in 1947, the Giro del Piemonte in 1950, and a stage in the 1950 Giro …

Continue reading “Ciao, Alfredo Martini”

Franco Chioccioli on Passo di Gavia, Giro d’Italia 1988

Today’s “historic photo of the day” is: Franco Chioccioli climbing Passo di Gavia, during stage 14 of the Giro d’Italia 1988. Before the 14th stage of 1988 Giro d’Italia, Del Tongo team’s Italian rider Franco Chioccioli was wearing the maglia rosa. He was leading the race 33 seconds ahead of Urs Zimmermann. The top ten of the …

Continue reading “Franco Chioccioli on Passo di Gavia, Giro d’Italia 1988”

Time Trial in Venice, 1978 Giro d’Italia

Today’s historic photo of the day: Roy Schuiten of Scic-Bottecchia team is time trialing at 14th stage of the 1978 Giro d’Italia in Venezia (Venice), near “Canal Grande” – The Grand Canal. May 21, 1978. The Venice Time-Trial of stage 14 required the construction of a floating bridge over the Grand Canal so that the …

Continue reading “Time Trial in Venice, 1978 Giro d’Italia”

A Tribute to Vincenzo Torriani

Vincenzo Torriani (Novate Milanese, 17 September 1918 – Milano, 24 April 1996) was best known as one of the original “Giro Bosses” or organizers of the Giro d’Italia. He held the role for 46 years, from 1946 to 1992. This video clip is from the documentary named “The Greatest Show on Earth“. Soundtrack: “Di quella …

Continue reading “A Tribute to Vincenzo Torriani”

Monte Zoncolan from a fan’s point of view (video)

Stage 20 of Giro d’Italia 2014 finished atop Monte Zoncolan. It is widely regarded as one of the most difficult climbs in Europe: the Zoncolan has been compared with Vuelta a España’s El Angliru, in the Spanish region of Asturias. The steepest, 23.6% pitch of the Angliru is very short however, being part of a …

Continue reading “Monte Zoncolan from a fan’s point of view (video)”

Merckx vs Battaglin on Monte Carpegna, 1973 Giro

If you watch Jørgen Leth’s great documentary about the 1973 Giro d’Italia, “Stars and Water Carriers” (Stjernerne og vandbærerne), you may remember Merckx vs Battaglin battle at stage 8 on Monte Carpegna. On one of the early climbs of the day, Eddy Merckx escaped bringing Spanish climber José Manuel Fuente (KAS) and the young Italian …

Continue reading “Merckx vs Battaglin on Monte Carpegna, 1973 Giro”