1956 Giro d'Italia

The 1956 Giro d'Italia was the 39th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Milan on 19 May with a 210 km (130.5 mi) flat stage and concluded back in Milan with a 113 km (70.2 mi) relatively flat mass-start stage on 10 June. Sixteen teams entered the race, which was won by Luxembourgian Charly Gaul of the Faema team. Second and third respectively were Italian riders Fiorenzo Magni and Agostino Coletto.[2][3]

1956 Giro d'Italia
Race details
Dates19 May - 10 June
Stages22, including one split stage
Distance3,523.45 km (2,189 mi)
Winning time101h 39' 46"
Results
Winner  Charly Gaul (LUX) (Faema)
  Second  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) (Nivea-Fuchs)
  Third  Agostino Coletto (ITA) (Fréjus)
  Mountains Three riders[N 1]
  Sprints  Giorgio Albani (ITA) (Legnano)
  Team Atala

Gaul took the lead in the legendary stage up Monte Bondone, where under a snow storm he won with an 8-minute margin over runner up Alessandro Fantini. This edition is unique since there were two Mountains Classification winners. There were two awards for the Dolomites and the Apennine mountains, the winners were Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes respectively.[4]

Teams

Fifteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1957 edition of the Giro d'Italia.[5] Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 105 cyclists.[5][6] From the riders that began the race, 43 made it to the finish in Milan.[1]

The teams entering the race were:[5][7]

  • Arbos-Bif-Clément
  • Atala-Pirelli
  • Bianchi-Pirelli
  • Carpano-Coppi
  • Eldorado
  • Faema-Guerra
  • Francia
  • Fréjus-Superga
  • Girardengo-ICEP
  • Italcover
  • Ignis
  • Legnano
  • Leo-Chlorodont
  • Nivea-Fuchs
  • Torpado-Pirelli

Pre-race favorites

The race was thought to be more open in previous years due to notable absences of top riders like Louison Bobet due to sickness, 1950 winner Hugo Koblet as he was recovering from a back injury and desired to focus on the Tour de France,[8] Stan Ockers, Ferdinand Kübler, and Raphaël Géminiani, along with the innovations regarding the race route.[6][9] A Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel writer felt that the race would offer a great opportunity for the younger riders to succeed as the previous great riders like Coppi are getting too old.[6] Previous year's winner Fiorenzo Magni (Nivea-Fuchs) was one of the older generation of riders to enter the race in great form, coming off of a win at the Tour of Piedmont.[6] In addition, Magni had announced that this would be his last Giro as he would retire as the season's end.[6] The writer continued naming young Italians with potential to contend like Gastone Nencini (Leo–Chlorodont), following his performance in last Giro, amateur road race champion Sante Ranucci (Legnano), and Aldo Moser (Torpado).[6] Jean Brankart lead the primarily Belgian Eldorado team and was viewed as a rider who would win a Tour de France.[6] Some viewed Charly Gaul (Faema) as a favorite to contend for the overall.[6] Spanish contenders were thought to be climber Federico Bahamontes (Girardengo), while sprinter Miguel Poblet (Faema) was thought to be a favorite for the flatter stages.[6]

Route and stages

The route was revealed on 24 February 1956.[10][11][12][13] The race contained eight stages with mountains, which contained sixteen categorized climbs.[14][15] The race route all together contained 3 rest days and 23 stages across 25 days of racing, of which 18 were mass-start stages, two individual time trials, one team time trial event, and one individual time trial run as a relay.[6][9] The relay event took place in San Marino.[6][9] The second day of racing featured a split stage where the second half was a team time trial that was contested at night to not interfere with a local football match that was happening in the afternoon.[6] The planned tenth stage from Salerno to Frascati was deemed an "electoral stage" at the route's announcement and was chosen to be removed because it fell on the day of Italian municipal elections.[6][9] Three new Dolomite mountains were climbed during this edition of the race: Monte Bondone (1,300 m (4,265 ft)), San-Pellegrino (1,918 m (6,293 ft)), and Vallès (2,033 m (6,670 ft) meters).[6][9] Eleven categorized climbs from the Apennines were included in the race route, with the Pian di Creto (605 m (1,985 ft)) being utilized in the second stage.[9] For the first time in race history, the cities of Lecco, Rapallo, Salice Terme were stops for the Giro.[10]

When interviewed about the route several current and former riders said.[16] The route was thought to be difficult.[17][18][19][20][21][22][23]

Stage characteristics and winners[1]
Stage Date Course Distance Type Winner
1 19 May Milan to Alessandria 210 km (130 mi) Plain stage  Pierino Baffi (ITA)
2a 20 May Alessandria to Genoa 96 km (60 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Alessandro Fantini (ITA)
2b Circuito di Lido d'Albaro 12 km (7 mi) Team time trial Leo-Chlorodont
3 21 May Genoa to Salice Terme 152 km (94 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Alessandro Fantini (ITA)
4 22 May Voghera to Mantua 198 km (123 mi) Plain stage  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
5 23 May Mantua to Rimini 228 km (142 mi) Plain stage  Giuseppe Minardi (ITA)
6 San Marino 13 km (8 mi) Individual time trial  Jan Nolten (NED)
7 24 May Rimini to Pescara 245 km (152 mi) Plain stage  Arrigo Padovan (ITA)
8 25 May Pescara to Campobasso 205 km (127 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Charly Gaul (LUX)
9 26 May Campobasso to Salerno 156 km (97 mi) Plain stage  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
10 27 May Salerno to Frascati 280 km (174 mi) Plain stage Stage Cancelled[N 2]
11 28 May Rome to Grosseto 198 km (123 mi) Plain stage  Bruno Tognaccini (ITA)
12 29 May Grosseto to Livorno 230 km (143 mi) Plain stage  Pietro Nascimbene (ITA)
30 May Rest day
13 31 May Livorno to Lucca 54 km (34 mi) Individual time trial  Pasquale Fornara (ITA)
14 1 June Lucca to Bologna 168 km (104 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Michel Stolker (NED)
15 2 June Bologna to Madonna di San Luca 2.45 km (2 mi) Individual time trial  Charly Gaul (LUX)
16 3 June Bologna to Rapallo 271 km (168 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
17 4 June Rapallo to Lecco 278 km (173 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Giorgio Albani (ITA)
18 5 June Lecco to Sondrio 98 km (61 mi) Plain stage  Miguel Poblet (ESP)
6 June Rest day
19 7 June Sondrio to Merano 163 km (101 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Cleto Maule (ITA)
20 8 June Merano to Monte Bondone 242 km (150 mi) Stage with mountain(s)  Charly Gaul (LUX)
21 9 June Trento to San Pellegrino Terme 191 km (119 mi) Plain stage  Giorgio Albani (ITA)
22 10 June San Pellegrino Terme to Milan 113 km (70 mi) Plain stage  Donato Piazza (ITA)
Total 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi)

Classification leadership

One jersey was worn during the 1956 Giro d'Italia. 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.[24]

There were three mountains classifications in the 1956 Giro d'Italia, one for the Dolomites, Apennines, and one for the highest mountain in the race, the Passo dello Stelvio.[1] The rider that was the first over the Stelvio was Ignis' Aurelio Del Rio.[1][25] Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the teams were awarded points for their rider's performance during the stages.

Classification leadership by stage
Stage Winner General classification
 Trofeo Dolomiti Trofeo Appennini Team classification
1 Pierino Baffi Pierino Baffi not awarded not awarded ?
2a Alessandro Fantini Giuseppe Fallarini Legnano
2b Leo-Chlorodont Vincenzo Zucconelli
3 Alessandro Fantini Alessandro Fantini Federico Bahamontes Atala
4 Miguel Poblet
5 Giuseppe Minardi ?
6 Jan Nolten Atala & Legnano
7 Arrigo Padovan Atala
8 Charly Gaul ?
9 Miguel Poblet Legnano
10 Stage Cancelled[N 2]
11 Bruno Tognaccini
12 Pietro Nascimbene
13 Pasquale Fornara Pasquale Fornara
14 Michel Stolker
15 Charly Gaul
16 Miguel Poblet
17 Giorgio Albani
18 Miguel Poblet
19 Cleto Maule
20 Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Atala
21 Giorgio Albani
22 Donato Piazza
Final Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Federico Bahamontes Atala

Final standings
Legend
     Denotes the winner of the General classification

General classification
Final general classification (1–10)[1][26][27]
Rank Name Team Time
1  Charly Gaul (LUX) Faema-Guerra 101h 39' 49"
2  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) Nivea-Fuchs + 3' 27"
3  Agostino Coletto (ITA) Fréjus + 6' 53"
4  Cleto Maule (ITA) Torpado + 7' 25"
5  Aldo Moser (ITA) Torpado + 7' 30"
6  Alessandro Fantini (ITA) Atala-Pirelli + 8' 46"
7  Jean Brankart (BEL) Eldroado + 9' 21"
8  Bruno Monti (ITA) Atala-Pirelli + 10' 54"
9  Waldemaro Bartolozzi (ITA) Legnano + 18' 14"
10  Hilaire Couvreur (BEL) Eldorado + 18' 41"

Trofeo Dolomiti

Final mountains classification (1-7)[1][28]
Name Team Points
1  Charly Gaul (LUX) Faema-Guerra 20
2  Bruno Monti (ITA) Atala-Pirelli 5
3  Arrigo Padovan (ITA) Atala-Pirelli 4
 Alessandro Fantini (ITA) Atala-Pirelli
 Agostino Coletto (ITA) Fréjus
6  Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) Nivea-Fuchs 8
7  Pierino Baffi (ITA) Nivea-Fuchs 8

Trofeo Appennini

Final mountains classification (1–5)[1][25][29]
Name Team Points
1  Federico Bahamontes (ESP) Girardengo 30
2  Bruno Monti (ITA) Atala-Pirelli 13
3  Giuseppe Buratti (ITA) Bianchi 11
4  Pasquale Fornara (ITA) Arbos 10
5  Aldo Moser (ITA) Torpado 8

Intermediate sprints classification

Final intermediate sprints classification (1–6)[26][27][30]
Name Team Points
1  Giorgio Albani (ITA) Legnano 22
2  Giuseppe Favero (ITA) Bianchi 11
3  Mies Stolker (NED) Italcover 10
4  Guido De Santi (ITA) Ignis 8
 Mario Baroni (ITA) Nivea-Fuchs
6  Gino Guerrini (ITA) Carpano-Coppi 7
 Alessandro Fantini (ITA) Atala-Pirelli

Trofeo della plata

Final Trofeo della plata classification (1–4)[26][27][31]
Name Team Points
1  Giorgio Albani (ITA) Legnano 8
2  Bruno Monti (ITA) Atala-Pirelli 6
 Guido De Santi (ITA) Ignis
4  Arrigo Padovan (ITA) Atala-Pirelli 5
 Bruno Tognaccini (ITA) Leo-Chlorodont
 Pietro Nascimbene (ITA) Carpano-Coppi
 Mies Stolker (NED) Italcover
 Cleto Maule (ITA) Torpado
 Donato Piazza (ITA) Nivea-Fuchs

Team classification
Final team classification (1–6)[1][26][32]
Team Points
1 Atala-Pirelli 1014
2 Torpado 1054
3 Nivea-Fuchs 1200
4 Carpano-Coppi 1545
5 Leo-Chlorodont 1619
6 Ignis 1627

References

Footnotes
  1. There were three mountains classifications in the 1956 Giro d'Italia, one for the Dolomites, Apennines, and one for the highest mountain in the race, the Passo dello Stelvio.[1] The rider that was the first over the Stelvio was Aurelio Del Rio. Federico Bahamontes won the Trofeo Appennini, while Charly Gaul won the Trofeo Dolomiti.
  2. This stage was removed and the day was used to transfer the riders to Rome.

Citations
  1. Bill and Carol McGann. "1956 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
  2. "Gaul Vencedor Del "Giro"" [Gaul the Winner of the "Tour"] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 14 June 1956. p. 1. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  3. Herbie Sykes (3 May 2017). "Part 3: Gaul & Monte Bondone". Soigneur. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  4. John Wilcockson (23 May 2006). "50 years later: Remembering Charly Gaul's great ride". VeloNews. Competitor Group, Inc. Archived from the original on 2 October 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
  5. "I Partenti" [Participants]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 19 May 1956. p. 5. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  6. "La vieille garde (Coppi et Magni) résistera-t-elle une nouvelle fois aux assauts de la génération montante?" [Will the old guard (Coppi and Magni) resist once again the assaults of the rising generation?] (PDF). Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel (in French). 19 May 1956. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2019 – via RERO.
  7. "Sei i nomi per il gioco del pronostico" [You are the names for the prediction game] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 19 May 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  8. Wadley 1956, p. 25.
  9. "Les coureurs "du Giro" s'élancent pour une ronde de 3520 km" ["Giro" riders set off for a 3520 km round] (PDF). L'Impartial (in French). 19 May 1956. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 October 2019 – via RERO.
  10. "Struttura, novita e percorso del Giro d'Italia 1956" [Structure, news and route of the 1956 Giro d'Italia]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 25 February 1956. p. 1 & 7. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  11. "Varato il Giro al fruscio delle prime corse" [The Giro was launched at the rustling of the first races] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 25 February 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  12. ""La Gazzetta dello Sport" ofrece la patrocincion del equipo espanol en el <<Giro>>" ["La Gazzetta dello Sport" offers sponsorship of the Spanish team in the << Giro >>] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 25 February 1956. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  13. ""La Gazzetta dello Sport"" ["La Gazzetta dello Sport"] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 25 February 1956. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  14. "Su Queste Montagne Si Decidera" [On these mountains will decide] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 19 May 1956. p. 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  15. "Una tappa di tre chilometri novita del Giro d'Italia '56" [A three-kilometer stage of the '56 Italian Tour] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 4 April 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  16. "Speranze e timori" [Hopes and fears] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 19 May 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  17. "Sara pesante la strada dei "girini"!" [The road of the "tadpoles" will be heavy] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 18 May 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  18. Ennio Mantella (18 May 1956). "Sette candidati per un posto solo" [Seven candidates for a single post]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1 & 8. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  19. Ennio Mantella (19 May 1956). "C'e nell'aria qualcosa di nuovo" [There is something new in the air]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1 & 6. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  20. Mario de Angelis (19 May 1956). "La parola... ai modesti" [The word... to the modest]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 6. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  21. Mario de Angelis (19 May 1956). "Hoy se Inicia La Vuelta a Italia" [Today The Tour of Italy Starts] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  22. Mario de Angelis (19 May 1956). "Hoy se Inicia La Vuelta a Italia" [Today The Tour of Italy Starts] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  23. Enrico Vignolini (7 April 1956). "Il Giro d'Italia di ieri di oggi" [The Giro d'Italia of yesterday today]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1 & 8. Archived from the original on 1 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  24. 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.
  25. "Del Rio primo sul valico dello Stelvio e Maule vincitore in volata a Merano" [Del Rio on the first pass of the Stelvio and Maule winner in the sprint in Merano] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 8 June 1956. p. 4. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  26. "Gaul ha vinto il Giro d'Italia" [Gaul has won the Tour of Italy] (PDF). Stampa Sera (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 11 June 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  27. "Gaul, Vencedor Del "Giro"" [Gaul, the Winner of the "Tour"] (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 14 June 1956. p. 5. Archived from the original on 4 July 2014. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  28. "Trofeo delle Dolomiti" [Trophy of the Dolomites]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 9 June 1956. p. 6. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  29. "Magni sara in gara nella "grande boucle"?" [Magni will be competing in the "grand boucle"?] (PDF). La Stampa (in Italian). Editrice La Stampa. 5 June 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
  30. "Trofeo Traguardi Volanti" [Flying Trophy Successes]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 11 June 1956. p. 12. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  31. "Trofeo della Pista" [Trophy Track]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 11 June 1956. p. 12. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
  32. "G. P. Dell'Industria". Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 11 June 1956. p. 12. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.

Bibliography
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