Christophe's Epic Ride Conquers the Weather
The 4th edition of Milan-San Remo started in a heavy rain. Sixty-five riders left the start line on Pedesimo Piazzale in Milan and raced into hail and snow, with the Passo Turchino covered by 25 cm (10 inches) of snow. Riders were forced to take refuge in homes along the route during the heavy snow storm.
Across the plains of Lombardia in the opening kilometers the bitter cold took a toll on the peloton. A considerable number of starters abandoned early in the race.
1908 M-SR champion Cyrille Van Hauwaert (Bel) built a lead to 3 minutes on Octave Lapize, 1909 winner Luigi Ganna, and Ernest Paul. Further behind Frenchman Eugene Christophe was chasing at +10 minutes.
Race status: (story of frozen riders!)
In Tortona (73 km into the race / 289.3 km), Van Houwaert and young Frenchman Octave Lapize were in the lead.
In Basaluzzo (96 km / 289.3 km), Lapize surrendered to the cold temperatures. When he struggled to hold the Belgian’s wheel, the young Frenchman abandoned the race.
The Passo Turchino climb (131 km / 289.3 km), at this time of year normally provided less than optimal weather conditions, but this year’s weather hit the 'surviving' riders with heavy snow and strong wind. Eugene Christophe used his cyclocross training to ride, walk, and run to survive the horrendous climb. Tough Belgian Van Houwaert crossed the summit first, followed by Christophe at 9’00”, Luigi Ganna (Ita) at 12’00”, Eberardo Pavesi (Ita) at 18’00”, and Pierino Albini (Ita) at 26’00”.
The Snow on the Passo Turchino
The race leader crashed on the snowy and dangerous descent. Coming off the Turchino Christophe passed a fading Van Houwaert, the Frenchman became the race leader.
As Christophe rode across the flatlands toward the Mediterranean coast the snow slowed but the temperature plummeted!!!
Frozen and delirious Christophe staggered into a local Inn. Soon after he stopped, Van Houwaert and Ernest Paul passed the Inn and saw a bike leaning against the wall. They took the opportunity to stop and enter the warm Inn. Soon after warming Van Houwaert and Paul refused to continue and abandoned the race.
After 25 minutes of warming Christophe saw Pierino Albini and Luigi Ganna ride past the Inn. A now refreshed Christophe asked for dry underwear and an old pair of “moleskin trousers,” and continued his effort. Warmer, drier, and with feeling back in his body, Christophe remounted to continue the race. He now trailed Albini and Ganna by 7'00” and his pursuit became relentless.
Riding through Varazze (194 km / 289.3 km), Christophe caught and passed the duo. Alone in the lead he fought sleet and an icy wind well into the closing kilometers.
At the feed station in Savona (205 km / 289.3 km), Christophe remained in the lead, the second placed Ganna trailed by 15’00”. Confidently the Frenchman stopped again to eat and change bikes.
Tiring as the finish line in San Remo approached, his thought of winning the classic Milan-San Remo gave Christophe renewed energy. At 6 pm, 12 hours and 24 minutes after starting in Milan, Eugene Christophe (Fra) crossed the finish line over an hour ahead of second placed Italian Giovanni Cocchi.
SPECIAL NOTE: Of the 65 at the start only 4 officially finished the race. Christophe was taken directly to the hospital, where he stayed for nearly a month to recover from frostbite. He did return to racing but struggled for 2 years to regain full strength.
SPECIAL NOTE: * Defending champion Luigi Ganna crossed the finish line in second place at 39'30" behind Christophe but became the first rider to be disqualified at M-SR when race officials discovered the Italian had covered part of the race in a car.
SPECIAL NOTE: Piero Lampaggi (Ita) finished 5th but was disqualified for numerous rules infractions.
SPECIAL NOTE: Sante Goi (Ita) finished 7th and is not classified after finishing outside the "control time-limit".
M-SR April 3, 1910 / 289.3 Km |
1.
Eugene CHRISTOPHE (Fra) 12h24'00" |
* DQ'd 2.
Luigi Ganna (Ita) +39'30" |
2.
Giovanni Cocchi (Ita) +1h01'00" |
3.
Giovanni Marchese (Ita) +1h17'00" |
4.
Enrico Sala (Ita) +2h06' |
5.
Piero Lampaggi (Ita) DQ'd |
7.
Enrico Sala (Ita) OTL (Outside the time limit) |
Starters: 65 / Finishers: 4 !!! Average Speed: 23.314 km/h |
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