1953 Giro d'Italia

The 1953 Giro d'Italia was the 36th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Milan on 12 May with a 263 km (163.4 mi) flat stage and concluded back in Milan with a 220 km (136.7 mi) relatively flat mass-start stage on 2 June. Sixteen teams entered the race, which was won by Italian Fausto Coppi of the Bianchi team. Second and third respectively were Swiss rider Hugo Koblet and Italian Pasquale Fornara.[1][2][3][4] [5]

1953 Giro d'Italia
Race details
Dates12 May - 2 June
Stages21
Distance4,035.5 km (2,508 mi)
Winning time118h 37' 26"
Results
Winner  Fausto Coppi (ITA) (Bianchi)
  Second  Hugo Koblet (SUI) (Cilo)
  Third  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) (Cilo)
  Mountains  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) (Cilo)
  Team Ganna

Hugo Koblet held the pink jersey up until the penultimate stage, when Coppi attacked and caught him on the climb up the Stelvio Pass, taking the lead and securing the final victory.

Teams
The peloton riding through St. Peter's Square during the tenth stage of the race.

Sixteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1953 edition of the Giro d'Italia.[6] Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 112 cyclists.[6][7] From the riders that began the race, 72 made it to the finish in Milan.[8] In total there were 35 foreign riders that started the race.[7] French rider and Swiss riders were thought to be very strong, while Spanish riders Bernardo Ruiz and Michel Gual were thought to be their country's best riders.[7]

The teams entering the race were:[6]

Pre-race favorites

The "Big Three" of Gino Bartali (Bartali), Fausto Coppi (Bianchi), and Fiorenzo Magni (Ganna) were expected to dominate the general classification.[7] A La Liberté writer felt that young riders Giancarlo Astrua (Atala), Nino Defilippis (Legnano), Pasquale Fornara (Bottecchia), and climber Bruno Monti (Arbos) would be exciting to watch throughout the race to see their potential.[7][9]

Route and stages

On 26 March, the route was announced to be from 12 May to 28 May.[10] It was later rumored on 30 March, that the race may include the Olympic stadium.[11] The full route was later unveiled on 9 April 1953, with a changed finale on the 2 June.[12][13][14][15] The race route featured 20 days of racing spread across 22 days as 20 May in Pisa and 27 May in San Pellegrino were set aside as rest days.[7]

Stage characteristics and results[8]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 12 May Milan to Abano Terme 263 km (163 mi) Plain stage  Wim Van Est (NED)
2 13 May Abano Terme to Rimini 278 km (173 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Pasquale Fornara (ITA)
3 14 May Rimini to San Benedetto del Tronto 182 km (113 mi) Plain stage  Albino Crespi (ITA)
4 15 May San Benedetto del Tronto to Roccaraso 171 km (106 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Fausto Coppi (ITA)
5 16 May Roccaraso to Naples 149 km (93 mi) Plain stage  Ettore Milano (ITA)
6 17 May Naples to Rome 285 km (177 mi) Plain stage  Giuseppe Minardi (ITA)
7 18 May Rome to Grosseto 178 km (111 mi) Plain stage  Giovanni Corrieri (ITA)
8 Grosseto to Follonica 48 km (30 mi) Individual time trial  Hugo Koblet (SUI)
9 19 May Follonica to Pisa 114 km (71 mi) Plain stage  Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL)
20 May Rest day
10 21 May Pisa to Modena 189 km (117 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA)
11 22 May Modena to Modena 30 km (19 mi) Team time trial Bianchi
12 23 May Modena to Genoa 278 km (173 mi) Plain stage  Giorgio Albani (ITA)
13 24 May Genoa to Bordighera 256 km (159 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Oreste Conte (ITA)
14 25 May Bordighera to Turin 242 km (150 mi) Plain stage  Pietro Giudici (ITA)
15 26 May Turin to San Pellegrino Terme 232 km (144 mi) Plain stage  Nino Assirelli (ITA)
27 May Rest day
16 28 May San Pellegrino Terme to Riva del Garda 279 km (173 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA)
17 29 May Riva del Garda to Vicenza 166 km (103 mi) Plain stage  Bruno Monti (ITA)
18 30 May Vicenza to Auronzo di Cadore 186 km (116 mi) Plain stage  Bruno Monti (ITA)
19 31 May Auronzo di Cadore to Bolzano 164 km (102 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Fausto Coppi (ITA)
20 1 June Bolzano to Bormio 125 km (78 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Fausto Coppi (ITA)
21 2 June Bormio to Milan 220 km (137 mi) Plain stage  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA)
Total 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi)

Race overview

The race started outside the Piazza del Duomo in Milan.[16] Ferdinand Kubler withdrew from the race early on due to disputes.[16]

Classification leadership

The leader of the general classification – calculated by adding the stage finish times of each rider – wore a pink jersey. This classification is the most important of the race, and its winner is considered as the winner of the Giro.[17] Time bonuses were awarded to the stage winner and the first riders to summit categorized climbs.[7] Riders were allowed to have teammates and team cars help to following accidents and punctures.[7] "Strollers" in years past were punished with small fines, but in this edition of the race they were punished by time adjustments and repeat offenses may lead to disqualification from the race.[7]

Two additional jerseys were in use. The green jersey was given to the best foreign cyclist in the general classification; at the end of the Giro it was worn by Swiss Hugo Koblet. The white jersey was given to the best cyclist riding with a licence for independents; this was won by Angelo Conterno.[18]

The mountains classification leader was not identified by a special jersey. The climbs all awarded three points to the first rider and one point to the second rider to cross the summit. There was one category for mountains which awarded five points down to one point for the first riders to cross the summit.[19] Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the stage finish times of the best three cyclists per team were added; the leading team was the one with the lowest total time.

Each day leading the general classification earned the rider and his team 100,000 lira, while the independent rider and foreign rider earned 25,000 lira each day for leading their respective classifications.[20]

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
 Best foreign rider
 Best independent rider
 Mountains classification Team classification
1 Wim Van Est Wim Van Est Wim Van Est Alfo Ferrari not awarded Locomotief
2 Pasquale Fornara Guido De Santi Hugo Koblet Elio Brasola Pasquale Fornara Levriere
3 Albino Crespi
4 Fausto Coppi Pasquale Fornara Louison Bobet Bianchi & Francia
5 Ettore Milano
6 Giuseppe Minardi Guido De Santi Hugo Koblet
7 Giovanni Corrieri Giovanni Corrieri Arrigo Padovan
8 Hugo Koblet Hugo Koblet Elio Brasola Bartali
9 Rik Van Steenbergen
10 Fiorenzo Magni Bianchi
11 Bianchi Bartali
12 Giorgio Albani
13 Oreste Conte
14 Pietro Giudici Angelo Conterno
15 Nino Assirelli Bottecchia
16 Fiorenzo Magni Ganna
17 Bruno Monti
18 Bruno Monti
19 Fausto Coppi
20 Fausto Coppi Fausto Coppi
21 Fiorenzo Magni
Final Fausto Coppi Hugo Koblet Angelo Conterno Pasquale Fornara Ganna

Final standings
Legend
     Denotes the winner of the General classification      Denotes the winner of the Independent rider
     Denotes the winner of the Foreign rider classification

General classification
Final general classification (1–10)[8][21]
Rank Name Team Time
1  Fausto Coppi (ITA) Bianchi 118h 37' 26"
2  Hugo Koblet (SUI) Guerra + 1' 26"
3  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) Bottecchia + 6' 55"
4  Gino Bartali (ITA) Bartali + 14' 08"
5  Angelo Conterno (ITA) Fréjus + 20' 51"
6  Stan Ockers (BEL) Girardengo + 24' 14"
7  Giovanni Roma (ITA) Bottecchia + 24' 35"
8  Guido De Santi (ITA) Benotto + 25' 06"
9  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) Ganna + 25' 39"
10  Vincenzo Rossello (ITA) Ganna + 26' 21"

Independent rider classification

Final Independent rider classification (1–5)[22]
Rank Name Time
1  Angelo Conterno (ITA) 118h 58' 17"
2  Giovanni Roma (ITA) + 3 '44"
3  Pietro Giudici (ITA) + 8' 11"
4  Donato Zampini (ITA) + 11' 03"
5  Arrigo Padovan (ITA) + 12' 32"

Foreign rider classification

Final Foreign rider classification (1–5)[22]
Rank Name Team Time
1  Hugo Koblet (SUI) Guerra 118h 38' 55"
2  Stan Ockers (BEL) Girardengo + 22' 45"
3  Wim Van Est (NED) Holland + 28' 28"
4  Fritz Schaer (SUI) Guerra + 28' 57"
5  Roger Pontet (FRA) France + 52' 56"

Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–9)[8][21][23]
Name Team Points
1  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) Bottecchia 33
2  Fausto Coppi (ITA) Bianchi 20
3  Gino Bartali (ITA) Bartali 16
4  Hugo Koblet (SUI) Guerra 15
5  Primo Volpi (ITA) Arbos 10
6  Andrea Carrea (ITA) Bianchi 8
7  Stan Ockers (BEL) Girardengo 5
8  Danilo Barozzi (ITA) Atala 4
9  Nino Defilippis (ITA) Legnano 3
 Giovanni Roma (ITA) Bottecchia

Team classification

Final team classification (1-10)[22]
Team Time
1 Ganna 357h 13' 20"
2 Bottecchia + 7' 21"
3 Bianchi + 10' 51"
4 Legnano + 37' 59"
5 Bartali + 39' 00"
6 Fréjus + 49' 47"
7 Svizzera-Guerra + 1h 01' 12"
8 Levrieri + 1h 05' 23"
9 Arbos + 1h 11' 58"
10 Atala + 1h 33' 11"

References

Citations
  1. "Coppi, en la penúltima etapa se impuso, y ha ganado de nuevo la Vuelta Ciclista a Italia :: Koblet, segundo" [Coppi, Won the Penultimate Stage, and Won the Tour of Italy Again :: Koblet, Second] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 3 June 1953. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  2. "Coppi ha vinto il Giro d'Italia e Magni l'ultima volata a Milano" [Coppi won the Tour of Italy and Magni the last sprint in Milan] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 3 June 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. "Primi interrogativi per il Tour" [A Tour of mountains and countryside] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 3 June 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  4. "Al Vigorelli apoteosi di Fausto Coppi superbo vincitore del "Giro d'Italia"" [At Vigorelli apotheosis of Fausto Coppi proud winner of the "Tour of Italy"] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 3 June 1953. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  5. Paul Maunder (19 May 2018). "Part 5: Staring at the Ceiling". Soigneur. Archived from the original on 1 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  6. "16 squadre 112 atleti" [16 teams 112 athletes]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 12 May 1953. p. 1. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  7. "Aujourd'hui, départ du 36 Tour de Italie" [Today, the 36th Tour of Italy departs] (PDF). La Liberté (in French). 12 May 1953. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2019 – via RERO.
  8. Bill and Carol McGann. "1953 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  9. "Le depart du Tour d'Italie sera donne aujourd'hui a Milan" [The start of the Tour of Italy will be given today in Milan] (PDF). La Sentinelle (in French). 12 May 1953. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2019 – via RERO.
  10. "Il Giro d'Italia del 12 al 28 Maggio" [The Tour of Italy from May 12 to 28]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 27 March 1953. p. 1 &. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. "Il Giro d'Italia allo Stadio Olimpiconel giorno di Italia-Ungheria" [The Giro d'Italia at the Stadio Olimpiconel day of Italy-Hungary]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 1 April 1953. p. 1 & 6. Archived from the original on 3 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  12. "Il Giro d'Italia in venti tappe e due giornate di riposo dal 12 maggio al 2 giugno" [The Giro d'Italia in twenty stages and two days of rest from 12 May to 2 June]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 10 April 1953. p. 1 & 6. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  13. Ennio Mantella (11 April 1953). "Il Giro d'Italia il percorso e la formula" [The Giro d'Italia the route and the formula]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1 & 5. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  14. "Fissate le 20 tappe del "Giro d'Italia"" [Set the 20 stages of the "Giro d'Italia"] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 10 April 1953. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  15. "Ecco il "Giro"!" [Here is the "Giro"!] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 11 April 1953. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  16. "Abandons de Kubler and Graf" [Kubler and Graf abandon] (PDF). La Sentinelle (in French). 13 May 1953. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2019 – via RERO.
  17. Laura Weislo (13 May 2008). "Giro d'Italia classifications demystified". Cycling News. Future Publishing Limited. Archived from the original on 17 June 2014. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
  18. "Classifica indipendenti; Classifica stranieri" (in Italian). Corriere dello Sport. 11 June 1951. Retrieved 7 October 2015.
  19. "Classifica del G. P. della Montagna dopo il traguardo di San Marino" [Ranking of Mountain GP after the finish of San Marino]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 14 May 1953. p. 6. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  20. "Taccuino del "Giro"" ["Giro" Notebook]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 25 May 1953. p. 11. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  21. "Coppi en la penúltima" [Coppi in the penultimate] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 3 June 1953. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  22. "Classifica per squadre" [Standings for Teams]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 3 June 1953. p. 7. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  23. "Fausto Coppi stacca tutti sullo Stelvio è primo a Bormio e conquista la maglia rosa" [Fausto Coppi all off on the Stelvio in Bormio is first and won the pink jersey] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 2 June 1953. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
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