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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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Gimondi’s Finest Victory
Two time Giro d’Italia champion Felice Gimondi scored his finest Giro victory in 1976. At the age of 34 the wily veteran used all his talents to win a very close race.
In one of the more closely contested races in Giro history Gimondi beat Belgian Johan De Muynck by 19 seconds and third placed defending Giro champion Fausto Bertoglio by 49 seconds.
Gimondi controlled a very close race through stage 18. Johan De Muynck made a furious run on the final climb to Vigio di Fassia on stage 19 and beat Gimondi by 39 seconds to take a slim race lead.
The decisive stage came on stage 22a the 28 km individual time trial on the Brianza Circuit in Arcore. A very good rider against the clock, Gimondi finish the stage 6th in 36’04” and gained 1’02” on race leader De Muynck.
Felice Gimondi rode the final half stage (22b), the 106 km Giro di Milano and gained his third Giro d’Italia victory.
A young Francesco Moser finished fourth at +1’07". The great Eddy Merckx (Bel) finished 8th at +7'40" and finish second to Moser in the Points Classification.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1a Giro di Catania, 64 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 1b Catania-Siracusa, 78 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 2 Siracusa-Caltanissetta, 210 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 3 Caltanissetta-Palermo, 163 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 4 Cefalu-Messina, 192 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Stage 5 Reggio Calabre-Cosenza, 220 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Stage 6 Cosenza-Matera, 207 km |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 7 Ostuni, 37 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Stage 8 Selva di Fassino-Lago di Laceno, 256 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 9 Bagnoli Irpino-Roccaraso, 204 km |
Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 10 Roccaraso-Terni, 203 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 11 Terni-Gabbice Mare, 222 km |
Antonio Menendez (Spa) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 12 Gabicce Mare-Poretta Terme, 215 km |
Sigfrido Fontanelli (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 13 Poretta Terme-Il Ciocco, 146 km |
Ronald De Witte (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 14 Il Ciocco-Varazze, 227 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 15 Varazze-Ozegna, 216 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 16 Castellamonte-Arosio, 258 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 17 Arosio-Verona, 196 km |
Ercole Gualazzini (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18 Verona-Longarone, 174 km |
Simone Fraccaro (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 19 Longarone-Vigio di Fassia, 132 km |
Andres Gandarias (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 20 Vigio di Fassia-Terme Comano, 170 km |
Luciano Conati (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 21 Terme di Comano-Bergamo, 238 km |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 22a Arcore-Circuito Brianza, 28 km ITT |
Joseph Bruyere (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 22b Giro di Milan, 106 km |
Daniele Tinchella (Ita) |
 Felice Gimondi (Ita)
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Mountain Classification |
 Francisco Galdos (Spa)
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Points Classification |
 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel)
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GdI May 21 to June 09, 1976 |
| 4.161 Km |
1. Felice GIMONDI (Ita) 119h58'15" |
| 2. Johan De Muynck (Bel) +19" |
| 3.
Fausto Bertoglio (Ita) +49" |
Starters: 120 |
| Finishers: 86 |
Average Speed: 34.683 km/h |
GdI 1977
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