Pierino Gavazzi Wins with a Bike Throw
The 1980 Milan-San Remo took a photo finish to indicate the winner. Pierino Gavazzi's bike throw at the line held off 2nd place Guiseppe Saronni, Jan Raas, Sean Kelly, Roger de Vlaeminck, and Francesco Moser.
The early two rider breakaway held an 11 minute lead going over the Passo di Turchino. The peloton got motivated on the long stretch along the coast of the Mediterranean and caught the breakaway going into the Cipressa. “Gruppo compatto” 20 kms. from the finish.
Aggressively the peloton approached the final climb. Belgian Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke attacked from the bottom of the Poggio but was not able to escape. Over the summit 30 riders remain in contention with 6 kms to go. Under the “Ultimo Chilometro” (1 kilometer flag) the group set up for the “Sprint Generale”. Onto the “Via Roma” Spendor-Admiral’s Michel Pollentier led out the sprint for teammate Sean Kelly.
Defending champion Roger de Vlaeminck jumped around the lead-out with Jan Raas and Pierino Gavazzi on his wheel. To the roar of the crowd Italian Pierino Gavazzi executed a perfect bike throw to grab the victory!!! Roger de Vlaeminck and Jan Raas (in the photo far left in the WCRR jersey) were second and third respectively.
M-SR March 16, 1980 |
288 Km |
1.
Pierino GAVAZZI (Ita) 6h42'07" |
2.
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita)
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Starters: 228 |
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Average Speed: 42.972 km/h
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M-SR 1981
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71st Milan-San Remo 1980 (Italy) 
