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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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Merckx DQ'd, Gimondi Wins
Defending champion Eddy Merckx dominated the Giro d'Italia again in 1969. This year’s race would not go smoothly for the young Belgian.
Merckx found controversy on stage 16. While leading the race after 15 stages, Merckx was found positive at doping control (drug test) and expelled from the Giro. Merckx steadfastly denies the charges. The cycling official in charge of administrating the test also believed in his innocents. However, the test was declared positive and action had to be taken.
The controversy began to swirl when his test results were not handled in the ordinary manner. The positive doping control was released to the press before all parties involved (Merckx and team officials) were notified. The damage was done and it was too late to recover. The handling of the affair by Italian officials was described as shameful. Curiously, the night before the random drug test, an Italian rival offered to pay Merckx to throw the race. Merckx adamantly refused to purposefully lose the race. The very next day, the positive doping control was administered.
With Merckx out of the race Felice Gimondi inherited the race lead on stage 16. Gimondi rode consistently for the remainder of the Giro to gain his second Giro victory.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Circuito Garda-Brescia, 142 km |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 2 Brescia-Mirandola, 180 km |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Stage 3 Mirandola-Montecatini, 188 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 4 Montecatini-Circuito, 21 km ITT |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 5 Montecatini-Follonica, 194 km |
Al Van Vlierberghe (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 6 Follonica-Viterbo, 198 km |
Franco Cortinovis (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 7 Viterbo-Terracina, 206 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 8 Terracina-Napoli, 133 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 9 Napoli-Potenza, 173 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 10 Potza-Campitello Matese, 254 km |
Carlo Chiappano (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 11 Campobasso-Scanno, 165 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 12 Scanno-Silvi Marina , 180 km |
Ugo Colombo (Ita) |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Stage 13 Silvi Marina-Senigalia, 166 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Stage 14 Senigallia-San Marino, 185 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 15 Cesenatico-San Marino, 49km ITT |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) DQ'd |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 16 Parma-Savona, 234 km |
Roberto Ballini (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 17 Celle Ligure-Pavia, 182 km |
Ole Ritter (Den) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18a Pavia-Zingonia, 115 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18b Zingonia-San Pellegrino, 100 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 19 San Pellegrino-Folgaria, 248 km |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 20 Trento-Marmolada * Canceled |
Stage Canceled - Bad weather |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 21 Rocca Pietore-Cavalese, 131 km |
Claudio Michelotto (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 22 Cavalese-Folgarida, 150 km |
Vittorio Adorni (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 23 Folgarida-Milan, 257 km |
Attilio Benfatto (Ita) |
 Felice Gimondi (Ita)
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Mountain Classification |
Claudio Michelotto (Ita) |
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Points Classification |
 Franco Bitossi (Ita)
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GdI May 16 - June 8, 1969 |
| 3,851.3 Km |
1. Felice GIMONDI (Ita) 106h47'03" |
| 2. Claudio Michelotto (Ita) +3'35" |
| 3.
Italo Zilioli (Ita) +4'48" |
Starters: 130 |
| Finishers: 81 |
Average Speed: 34.942 km/h |
GdI 1970
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