Frenchman Henri Pelissier, 2-time Lombardia champion (1911 and 1913) came to Milan with his powerful Bianchi-Pirelli team.
Riding up the Brinzio climb (81 km into the race / 241 km), the race battles started in earnest. Teammates Jean Alavoine (Bianchi) and Luigi Luguet (Bianchi) took advantage and passed the summit with a gap of thirty seconds. Luguet rode away from the group on the descent.
On the second pass through Varese (94 km / 241 km) Luguet had a minute lead on Henri Pelissier (Bianchi), Gaetano Belloni (Bianchi), Giovanni Brunero (Legnano), and Giuseppe Azzini (Bianchi).
Luguet maintained his margin but did not increase the gap. In the chase behind Brunero was slowed by a puncture, when Belloni, Azzini, and Pelissier attacked. The Bianchi trio quickly reached the leader.
Approaching Como (130 km / 241 km), Brunero trailed the Bianchi controlled breakaway by 3'00”.
At the start of the Ghisallo climb (161 km / 241 km), the four leaders rode steadily together with team leader Pelissier sprinting first over the summit. In pursuit Brunero executed an exceptional chase and rode past Azzini, who was a victim of a puncture.
Inspired, Brunero returned to the head of the race just before Lecco (191 km / 241 km).
Forty km from Milan Luguet punctured. Belloni, Pelissier, and Brunero remain in the lead, but Bianchi had a tactical advantage.
On the Cicognola climb (210 km / 241 km), the last difficult climb before the finish, the three measure each other’s strength.
At the summit, the trio has a 10'00” advantage over their pursuers.
After Cernusco (228 km / 241 km), Pelissier’s teammate Belloni punctured, slowed down, and stopped! Sensing an opportunity Brunero sprinted away. However, his aggressive move caused the chain to jump off the chainring, he had to stop.
Pelissier took advantage of the gift and rode away quickly, while Brunero and Belloni recovered.
