Category: Giro d’Italia

Adam Hansen’s Special Campagnolo Bora Wheels

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date September 14, 2014
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Starting with the Vuelta a España in 2011, Lotto Belisol’s Adam Hansen has ridden 10 consecutive Grand Tours, winning 2 stages in the process (Stage 7 of the Giro d’Italia 2014 and stage 19 of the Vuelta a España 2014), and finishing all of them. Tonight he will ride the final time trial of the Vuelta a España with a special Campagnolo Bora disk wheel to mark his record-equaling 10th consecutive Grand Tour finish.

Only two other riders have completed 10 consecutive Grand Tours in history: Bernardo Ruiz did it between 1955 and 1957 and Marino Lejarreta completed his between 1989 and 1991.

Tags Giro d'Italia 2013, Lotto-Belisol

History and Legends Cycling and Music, Cinema, Art Giro d'Italia Races

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

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date August 27, 2014
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Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali smoking cigars (featured) — 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.

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.

Tags Gino Bartali, Louison Bobet

History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

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 d’Italia (stage 2, a 245 km -152 mi- running from Salsomaggiore Terme to Martini’s home town, Florence). He finished 1950 Giro in third place, after the winner Hugo Koblet and the second finisher Gino Bartali. He also wore the race leader’s pink jersey “maglia rosa” during stage 8.

Tags Gino Bartali, Giro d'Italia 1950, Hugo Koblet

Giro d'Italia History and Legends Races

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

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date August 20, 2014
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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 general classification was:

Tags Giro d'Italia 1988

History and Legends Giro d'Italia Races

Time Trial in Venice, 1978 Giro d’Italia

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date August 19, 2014
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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 riders could cross the “Canal Grande” and finish in San Marco Square. The length of the course was 12 km (7 mi).

Giro d'Italia Races

A Tribute to Vincenzo Torriani

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date June 11, 2014
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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 pira” – a popular tenor aria (or more specifically cabaletta) sung by Manrico in Act 3, Scene 2 of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera, “Il Trovatore“. Tenor: Franco Corelli.

Giro d'Italia Races

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

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date June 4, 2014
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Monte Zoncolan with Adam Hansen — Monte Zoncolan - a fan's point of view - with Adam Hansen

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 kilometer stretch that averages “only” 17.2 percent – while the Zoncolan has a kilometer of nearly 20%.

The “thing” is situated in Friuli Venezia Giulia and belongs to the Alps. Starting from Ovaro, the Monte Zoncolan ascent is 10.5 km long. Over this distance, you climb 1210 vertical meters. The average percentage thus is 11.5%.

Tags Giro d'Italia 2014

History and Legends Cycling Climbs Giro d'Italia

Merckx vs Battaglin on Monte Carpegna, 1973 Giro

Post author By M. Özgür Nevres
Post date February 25, 2014
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Merckx vs Battaglin, 1973 Giro (featured)

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 Giovanni Battaglin (Jollj Ceramica) along for company. Foolishly, Fuente took his pulls with the powerful Belgian and after having burned his matches, was spit out the back.