Wikipedia

1949 Giro d'Italia

The 1949 Giro d'Italia was the 32nd Giro d'Italia, organized and sponsored by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The race began on 21 May in Palermo with a stage that stretched 261 km (162 mi) to Catania, finishing in Monza on 12 June after a 267 km (166 mi) stage and a total distance covered of 4,088 km (2,540 mi). The race was won by Fausto Coppi of the Bianchi team, with fellow Italians Gino Bartali and Giordano Cottur coming in second and third respectively.[1][2][3][4][5]

1949 Giro d'Italia
Race details
Dates21 May - 12 June 1949
Stages19
Distance4,088 km (2,540 mi)
Winning time125h 25' 50"
Results
Winner  Fausto Coppi (ITA) (Bianchi)
  Second  Gino Bartali (ITA) (Bartali)
  Third  Giordano Cottur (ITA) (Wilier Triestina)
  Mountains  Fausto Coppi (ITA) (Bianchi)
  Sprints  Oreste Conti (ITA) (Bianchi)
  Team Wilier Triestina
← 1948
1950 →

Coppi won the overall by way of the memorable 17th stage (from Cuneo to Pinerolo),[6] in which he escaped from the group and climbed alone the Maddalena Pass, the Col de Vars, the Col d'Izoard, the Col de Montgenèvre and the Sestriere Pass, arriving in Pinerolo 11'52" ahead of Bartali, his tenacious antagonist during those years.

Teams

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Main article: List of teams and cyclists in the 1949 Giro d'Italia

A total of 15 teams were invited to participate in the 1949 Giro d'Italia.[7] Each team sent a squad of seven riders, so the Giro began with a peloton of 105 cyclists.[7] Out of the 105 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 65 riders made it to the finish in Monza.[8]

The teams entering the race were:[7][9]

Pre-race favorites

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The main favorites entering the race were Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi.[10] Vito Ortelli, who placed fourth the year prior did not participate as he was suffering from an illness and stayed home.[10] l'Unità's Attilio Camoriano wrote that Coppi's form entering the race could allow him to gain the lead early on and hold it from Bartali, who was known to take several stages to warm up and adjust to the race.[10] Camoriano added that Bartali would likely not let that happen as he was known to find strength and referenced previous Tours de France.[10] He further stated that Coppi's Bianchi team was stronger and better organized than Bartali's eponymous team.[10] Aside from the aforementioned contenders, Fiorelli's Jean Goldschmit was thought to be the team's best contender as Ganna–Ursus's Albert Dubuisson was known to fade on climbs.[10]

Route and stages

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The route for this edition of the Giro d'Italia was announced on 7 February 1949.[11][12] The stages involving the Piedmont region were finalized on 24 March.[13] The race was scheduled to begin at 8 am at the Villa Giulia in Palermo.[10] Attilio Camoriano of l'Unità stated that the riders were likely to use their heavy, thicker tires because after the Santo Stefano junction, the roads contained lava rocks from Mount Etna throughout and those were known to cut tires easily.[10][14][15][16][17][18] The Sicilian government offered race organizers ten million lire to host the start of the Giro.[19]

Prior to the start of the race, bandit Salvatore Giuliano who had been on the run near Sicily's Montelepre was being searched for by police as the area was in a state of emergency for several weeks.[19] It was rumored that Giuliano threatened to line the race route in the mountains and shoot at the participants with machine guns if the police did not call off their search for him.[19][20] Specifically Giuliano threatened to interrupt the first stage along its route from Palermo to Catania.[21] Due to these threats, there were discussions to cancel the two planned stages in Sicily, but the stages remained.[19] Instead, the normal police escort for the Giro d'Italia caravan that travels with the race would be increased from 6 to 10 cars and cars would not be allowed to stop along the route throughout the two stages on the island except in cases of "force majeure."[19] The added police were not due to the rumors of the attack, but allegedly to prevent a potential escape by Giuliano.[19]

Stage characteristics and results[8]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 21 May Palermo to Catania 261 km (162 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Mario Fazio (ITA)
2 22 May Catania to Messina 163 km (101 mi)   Plain stage   Sergio Maggini (ITA)
3 23 May Villa San Giovanni to Cosenza 214 km (133 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Guido De Santi (ITA)
4 24 May Cosenza to Salerno 292 km (181 mi)   Plain stage   Fausto Coppi (ITA)
5 26 May Salerno to Naples 161 km (100 mi)   Plain stage   Serafino Biagioni (ITA)
6 27 May Naples to Rome 233 km (145 mi)   Plain stage   Mario Ricci (ITA)
7 28 May Rome to Pesaro 298 km (185 mi)   Plain stage   Adolfo Leoni (ITA)
8 29 May Pesaro to Venezia 273 km (170 mi)   Plain stage   Luigi Casola (ITA)
9 31 May Venezia to Udine 249 km (155 mi)   Plain stage   Adolfo Leoni (ITA)
10 1 June Udine to Bassano del Grappa 154 km (96 mi)   Plain stage   Giovanni Corrieri (ITA)
11 2 June Bassano del Grappa to Bolzano 237 km (147 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Fausto Coppi (ITA)
12 4 June Bolzano to Modena 253 km (157 mi)   Plain stage   Oreste Conte (ITA)
13 5 June Modena to Montecatini Terme 160 km (99 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Adolfo Leoni (ITA)
14 6 June Montecatini Terme to Genoa 228 km (142 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Vincenzo Rossello (ITA)
15 7 June Genoa to Sanremo 136 km (85 mi)   Plain stage   Luciano Maggini (ITA)
16 9 June Sanremo to Cuneo 190 km (118 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Oreste Conte (ITA)
17 10 June Cuneo to Pinerolo 254 km (158 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Fausto Coppi (ITA)
18 11 June Pinerolo to Turin 65 km (40 mi)   Individual time trial   Antonio Bevilacqua (ITA)
19 12 June Turin to Monza 267 km (166 mi)   Stage with mountain(s)   Giovanni Corrieri (ITA)
Total 4,088 km (2,540 mi)

Classification leadership

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In the 1949 Giro d'Italia there were two major classifications. For the general classification, calculated by adding each cyclist's finishing times on each stage, and allowing time bonuses for the first three finishers on mass-start stages, the leader received a pink jersey. This classification was considered the most important of the Giro d'Italia, and the winner was considered the winner of the Giro.[22]

In the mountains classifications, points were won by reaching the top of a climb before other cyclists.[23] This classification did not award a jersey to the leader.[22] The highest climb of the race was the Col d'Izoard in stage seventeen, which was 2360m. The other stages that included categorized climbs were stages: 1, 3, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, and 19.[23]

A white jersey was awarded to the rider from a non-major "industrial" team with the lowest total time."[24][11][25]

There was a black jersey (maglia nera) awarded to the rider placed last in the general classification. The classification was calculated in the same manner as the general classification.

There was a classification for sprints called the "Gran Premio Tappe Volanti" classification.[25] This consisted of a sprint line that was marked in eight stages of the race, stages 2, 4, 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, and 19.[25] Specifically the eight sprints were located in the following places Taormina, Castrovillari, Terni, Ferrara, Trieste, Verona, Chiavari, and Novara, respectively.[25]

For placing in the top three for each classification, on the final stage placings, the "Gran Premio Tappe Volanti", or crossing a categorized climb for the mountains classification, time bonuses were awarded.[23] One minute time bonus was given to the first placed rider, thirty seconds to second place, and fifteen second to third.[23]

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
  		Best non-industrial team rider
  		Mountains classification Last in General classification
  		Team classification
1 Mario Fazio Mario Fazio Mario Fazio Mario Fazio ? ?
2 Sergio Maggini Giordano Cottur Andrea Carrea Sante Carollo
3 Guido De Santi Mario Fazio & Léon Jomaux
4 Fausto Coppi Mario Fazio Vitaliano Lazzerini Wilier Triestina
5 Serafino Biagioni
6 Mario Ricci
7 Adolfo Leoni Mario Fazio
8 Luigi Casola Marcel Buysse
9 Adolfo Leoni Adolfo Leoni Sante Carollo
10 Giovanni Corrieri Marcel Buysse
11 Fausto Coppi Giancarlo Astrua Fausto Coppi Sante Carollo
12 Oreste Conte
13 Adolfo Leoni
14 Vincenzo Rossello
15 Luciano Maggini
16 Oreste Conte
17 Fausto Coppi Fausto Coppi
18 Antonio Bevilacqua
19 Giovanni Corrieri
Final Fausto Coppi Giancarlo Astrua Fausto Coppi Sante Carollo Wilier Triestina

Final standings

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Summary

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Classification Winner
General classification

      pink jersey

  Fausto Coppi (ITA)
Last place of GC

      black jersey

Sante Carollo
Non-industrial riders

      white jersey

  Giancarlo Astrua (ITA)
Foreign riders

      green jersey

Classifications without jersey
Mountain classification   Fausto Coppi (ITA)
Intermediate sprints   Oreste Conti (ITA)

General classification

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Final general classification (1–10)[8][26]
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Fausto Coppi (ITA)   Bianchi 125h 25' 50"
2   Gino Bartali (ITA) Bartali + 23' 47"
3   Giordano Cottur (ITA) Wilier-Triestina + 38' 27"
4   Adolfo Leoni (ITA) Legnano + 39' 01"
5   Giancarlo Astrua (ITA)   Benotto + 39' 50"
6   Alfredo Martini (ITA) Wilier-Triestina + 48' 48"
7   Giulio Bresci (ITA) Centro Sportivo Italiano + 49' 14"
8   Serafino Biagioni (ITA) Viscontea + 53' 14"
9   Nedo Logli (ITA) Arbos + 56' 59"
10   Silvio Pedroni (ITA) Fréjus + 1h 02' 10"

Independent rider classification

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Final independent rider classification (1–5)[27]
Rank Rider Team Time
1   Giancarlo Astrua (ITA)   Benotto 126h 05' 40"
2   Serafino Biagioni (ITA) Viscontea + 13' 24"
3   Silvio Pedroni (ITA) Fréjus + 22' 20"
4   Mario Fazio (ITA) Bottecchia + 26' 20"
5   Settimo Simonini (ITA) Fréjus + 34' 23"

Mountains classification

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Final mountains classification (1–5)[26]
Rank Rider Team Points
1   Fausto Coppi (ITA)   Bianchi 46
2   Gino Bartali (ITA) Bartali 41
3   Alfredo Pasotti (ITA) Benotto 23
4   Giancarlo Astrua (ITA)   Benotto 14
5   Léon Jomaux (FRA) Bartali 12

Team classification

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Final team classification (1)[8]
Rank Team Time
1 Wilier-Triestina ?

Intermediate sprints classification

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Final intermediate sprints classification (1–3)[26]
Rank Name Team Points
1   Oreste Conte (ITA) Bianchi 21
2   Antonio Bevilacqua (ITA) Atala 19
3   Adolfo Leoni (ITA) Legnano 13

References

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  1. ^ "Coppi gana la Vuelta a Italia" [Coppi Wins the Tour of Italy] (in Spanish). Milan, Italy: El Mundo Deportivo. 15 June 1949. p. 2. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. ^ "Dino Buzzati racconta la sfida Coppi-Bartali" [Dino Buzzati tells the Coppi-Bartali challenge] (PDF). Stampa Sera (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 13 May 1981. p. 3. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. ^ Attilio Camoriano (4 January 1960). "Coppi come un fulmine passo sui baluardi alpini" [Coppi as a lightning step on the Alpine ramparts] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  4. ^ Ennio Mantella (17 May 1949). "Il 32 Giro d'Italia Entra Nell'Appassionante Vigilia" [The 32 Giro d'Italia enters the thrilling Christmas Eve]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 October 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  5. ^ "Il "Giro" e pronto!" [The "Tour" is Ready!] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 15 May 1949. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Giro Replay: The Cima Coppi". pezcyclingnews.com. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b c "I corridori partenti" [Starting Riders]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 21 May 1949. p. 3. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d Bill and Carol McGann. "1949 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  9. ^ "I 105 concorrenti" [The 105 competitors] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 21 May 1949. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h Attilio Camoriano (21 May 1949). "Buon viaggio al "Giro" che parte oggi da Palermo" [Have a good trip to the "Giro" which starts today from Palermo] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Il Giro d'Italia dalla Sicilia alle Alpi" [The Giro d'Italia from Sicily to the Alps]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 8 February 1949. p. 1. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  12. ^ "le novita del Giro d'Italia" [The news of the Giro d'Italia] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 8 February 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Le tappe piemontesi del Giro d'Italia" [The Piedmontese stages of the Giro d'Italia] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 24 March 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  14. ^ "Tra le squadre d'Italia e d'Austria come nel passato, splendida incertezza" [Among the teams of Italy and Austria as in the past, splendid uncertainty]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 21 May 1949. p. 1. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  15. ^ "La carovana del Giro d'Italia" [The caravan of the Giro d'Italia]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 20 May 1949. p. 4. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  16. ^ "Domani il "Giro" prende il "via"" [Tomorrow the "Giro" takes the "way"] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 20 May 1949. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  17. ^ "Il Giro d'Italia, corsa del popolo tra l'entusiasmo e la schietta ospitalita del Meridone" [The Giro d'Italia, race of the people between enthusiasm and the sincere hospitality of the Meridone]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 19 May 1949. p. 1 & 4. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  18. ^ "Fausto Coppi in gran forma pronto per il Giro d'Italia" [Fausto Coppi in great shape ready for the Giro d'Italia]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 18 May 1949. pp. 1, 3, & 4. Archived from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d e f F.D. (17 May 1949). "Il Giro d'Italia e il bandito Giuliano" [The Giro d'Italia and the bandit Giuliano] (PDF). Stampa Sera (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. p. 1. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  20. ^ "El bandido giuliano amenaza a los corredores de la vuelta a italia" [The Bandit Giuliano threatens the riders of the Tour of Italy] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 20 May 1949. p. 2. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  21. ^ "Le Tour d'Italie pourra-t-il prendre le départ" [Will the Tour of Italy be able to take departure?] (PDF). Le Rhône (in French). 17 May 1949. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 7 October 2019 – via RERO.
  22. ^ a b Laura Weislo (2008-05-13). "Giro d'Italia classifications demystified". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved 2009-08-27.
  23. ^ a b c d "Il G.P. della Montagna" [The Mountains Classification] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 21 May 1949. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  24. ^ Bruno Roghi (20 May 1949). "Tiriamo il sipario" [Let's Pull the Curtain]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 3. Archived from the original on 17 March 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013. Siamo infine curiosi di vendere come giostrera il Giro ttorno alla maglia bianca. La maglia bianca, a nostro parere, comporta la divisione del campo in due categoriebene individuale di concorrenti: da una parte le squadre industriali, dall'altra gruppi o gli isolati. Le due categorie, nate col Giro d'Italia (isolati) e sviluppatesi in seguito per ragioni organizzative, coreografiche e assistenziali (gruppi), sono autonome e indipendenti per struttura quantitativa, per interessi e per obiettivi dei nuclei in corsa. La maglia rosa (assoluta) e la maglia bianca (relativa) devono rispecchiaire queste sostanziali diversita in un Giro d'Italia aperto soltanto alle squadre industriali, tutti di pari effecttvi (sette corridori), ed ognuna articolata sulla figura e sulle esigenze di un capitano? Potra e dovra la maglia bianca indossata da un gregario rinunciare alle sue probabilita di affermazione, o semplicemente alle sue necesssita di difesa attiva, nel caso in cui il capitano abbia bisogno della sua ruota, o del suo traino, e, in altre parole, della sua rinuncia e del suo sacrificio? Ecco un motivo di perplessita.
  25. ^ a b c d "Le tappe volanti" [The flying stages] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 21 May 1949. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 September 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  26. ^ a b c "A Corrieri, in volata l'ultimo traguardo" [A Couriers, in the final sprint finish] (PDF). Stampa Sera (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 13 June 1949. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  27. ^ Buzzati, Dino (1998). The Giro D'Italia: Coppi Versus Bartali at the 1949 Tour of Italy. Boulder, Colorado: VeloPress. p. 183. ISBN 978-1-884737-51-0. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
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