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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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“Angel of the Mountains” Climbs to Victory
Charly “Angel of the Mountains” Gaul had stage wins on stage 9 to Campobasso and on the stage 15 uphill time trial to San Luca. But his crowning effort came on a cold and snowy stage 20 from Merano to Trento. The weather was so bad only 43 of the 89 starters finished the stage.
On the finishing climb of the Monte Bondone Gaul rode away from all his rivals for an impressive stage win, 7’44” ahead of second place. Race leader Pasquale Fornara suffered so badly from the adverse conditions he abandoned the race in the Maglia Rosa.
SPECIAL NOTE: It took stage winner Gaul one hour in a hot bath to recover his senses and speak any recognizable words.
Luxembourger Charly Gaul rode into Milan in the Maglia Rosa and claimed the 1956 Giro d’Italia victory.
Stage 1 Milan-Alessandria, 210 km |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Pierino Baffi (Ita) |
Stage 2 Alessandria-Genova, 96 km |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Vincenzo Zuconelli (Ita) |
Stage 3 Circuito Lido Albaro, 12 km TTT |
LEO-CHLORODONT |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 4 Genova-Salice Terme, 152 km |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 5 Voghera-Mantova, 198 km |
Miguel Poblet (Spa) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 6 Mantova-Rimini, 228 km |
Giuseppe Minardi (Ita) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 7 Circuito San Marino , Stage 13 ITT |
Jan Nolten (Hol) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 8 Rimini-Pescara, 245 km |
Arrigo Padovan (Ita) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 9 Pescara-Campobasso, 205 km |
Charly Gaul (Lux) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 10 Campobasso-Salerno, 156 km |
Miguel Poblet (Spa) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 11 Rome-Grosseto, 198 km |
Bruno Tognaccini (Ita) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 12 Grossetto-Livorno, 230 km |
Pietro Nascimbene (Ita) |
Alessandro Fantini (Ita) |
Stage 13 Livorno-Lucca, 54 km ITT |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 14 Lucca-Bologna, 168 km |
Mies Stolker (Hol) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 15 Scalata San Luca, 2.45 km ITT |
Charly Gaul (Lux) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 16 Bologna-Rapallo, 271 km |
Miguel Poblet (Spa) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 17 Rapallo-Lecco, 278 km |
Giorgio Albani (Ita) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 18 Lecco-Sondrio, 98 km |
Miguel Poblet (Spa) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 19 Sondrio-Merano, 163 km |
Cleto Maule (Ita) |
Pasquale Fornara (Ita) |
Stage 20 Merano-Trento/Bondone, 242 km |
Charly Gaul (Lux) |
Charly Gaul (Lux) |
Stage 21 Trento-San Pellegrini, 191 km |
Giogio Albani (Ita) |
Charly Gaul (Lux) |
Stage 22 San Pellegrini-Milan, 113 km |
Donato Piazza (Ita) |
 Charly Gaul (Lux)
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Mountain Classification (Tie) |
Charly Gaul (Lux) and
Federico Bahamontes (Spa) |
GdI May 19 - June 10, 1956 |
| 3,523 Km |
1. Charly GAUL (Lux) 101h39'49" |
| 2. Fiorenzo Magni (Ita) +3'27" |
| 3.
Agostino Coletto (Ita) +6'53" |
| Starters: 105 |
| Finishers: 43 |
| Average Speed: 34.677 km/h |
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Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
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39th Giro d'Italia 1956 (Italy) 
