Bicycle Italy.org

[Passing in Tuscany -  credit: Vir gin ia]

1909- The Beginning

Cycling was an important italian sport in the beginning of the new century: Lombardy tour, Milano-Torino, Milano-Sanremo, Piedmont tour.

“La Gazzetta dello Sport” (a popular Italian sport magazine) wanted to organize the first Tour of Italy, and in the 1909 the new adventure was already to start. The first promoter was Armando Cougnet.

The first Italy Tour (”Giro d’Italia”) started on May 13 of the 1909, at 2.53 Am from Rondò of Loreto, to Milan. There were 8 stages, 2448 Km, 127 cyclists.

Jackpot consisted of 25 mila lire (about 20 dollars), and Luigi Ganna, the first winner, gained 5.325 lire. Carlo Galletti won the tours of 1910 and 1911.

During the World War I, the cycling tour stopped for 5 years. Many cyclists, as Petit Breton and Carlo Oriani (winner of 1913 tour), died during the war.

[Fausto Coppi - credit: radon7]

Between the I and II World War

Alfredo Binda was a great cyclist during fascism, he won 5 Italy Tours and still detains the stages win record (41). His undisputed predominance brought about the organizer to give him 22.500 lire, the jackpot, to remain at home.

In the same epoch the Italy Cycling Tour become a cinematography event by filming the cyclists at their arrival.

During this year’s the Tour of Italy increased the stages number, including stages in the south of Italy too.
In 1931 the “pink shirt” (In Italian Maglia Rosa) became the symbol of winner stage, and Learco Guerra was the first to wear it.

In 1935 Gino Bartali shows up on “Gran Premio della Montagna”, drawing the attention. Fausto Coppi, won “Giro d’Italia” in 1940.

During the World War II the tour stopped, and in 1946 Bartali won the tour followed by 4 win of Fausto Coppi.

1953: This is the year of the first live broadcast.

[Marco Pantani, Il Pirata - credit: aquilano76]

The Tour Today

Bondone stage in 1956 is remembered as the “hell stage”, because a snowstorm stunned the competition.
Learco Guerra made ready hot water for Charly Gaul. This was the winning solution, in fact Gaul arrived at Bondone top alone, detaching the rival with 4 minutes.

Merckx, the «Cannibal» was the great champion between 1968 and 1974: he won 5 Italy Tours. In 1973 he remained at the top of every stage of the tour.

In 1998 Pantani won the Italy Tour. His name is remembered for the exclusion from the competition because of an anomaly noticed in his blood test. He remain one of the most important Italian cyclist of the tour of Italy.

The last year’s Italy Tour drew the attention for doping scandal, in fact many people and cyclists was arrested for sport lawlessness discovered.