xx 30th Giro d'Italia 1947 (Italy)

Coppi Beats Bartali…But Not Without a Fight

The 1947 Giro d'Italia was the 30th edition of the Grand Italian race.

SPECIAL NOTE: in 1947 the race was the first Giro to have all competing riders be part of a trade team, rather than for some riders competing as Independents/Groups.

Teams:

The teams entering the race were:

Classification Leadership:

The leader of the General Classification wore the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey). There was a new Maglia Nera (Black Jersey) awarded to the rider placed last in the GC.

Minor Awards:

Coppi won the “Blue Bracelet” for winning a stage with the greatest time gained on the second placed rider. He managed to achieve a gap of 4'24" during stage 16 from Pieve di Cadore to Trento. He won the stage by a margin of 4'24".

The "Premato Veloce" classification awarded the rider with the most stage wins. Coppi and Adolfo Leoni split the prize. Both Adolfo Leoni and Fausto Coppi had three stage wins.

Race Summary:

Stage 2: 206 km from Torino to Genova, A very fit Gino Bartali attacked when the stage went over the Apennines Mountains. He broke away with Benotto’s Vito Ortelli, leaving Fausto Coppi and Fiorenzo Magni +2’41” behind.

Stage 4: The first challenging stage was the fourth, when the ascent of the Abetone launched Coppi. The ensuing breakaway earned Coppi the stage win but an ever-vigilant Gino Bartali matched the effort and took the race. He managed to keep lead Maglia Rosauntil stage 16.

SPECIAL NOTE: On the stage 15 from Vittorio Veneto to Pieve di Cadore Gino “the Pious” Bartali dismounted his bike to punch a rowdy spectator, who had shouted an anti-Catholic slur at him. He then continued the race and won the stage.

Stage 16: An outstanding stage! There were two rest days in Pieve di Cadore before the race made its way over the brutal climbs of the Passo Falzarego and Passo Pordoi. Originally a third climb, the Sella, had also been part of the race route, but snow closed the climb. The climb of the Sella was eliminated.

Climbing the Falzarego Bartali dropped his chain and instantly Coppi was on the attack. However, on the descent Coppi experienced his own chain troubles and Bartali regained contact with the group.

On the unpaved switchback turns of the Pordoi, Coppi attacked again and Bartali had no response. Coppi rode into Trento alone, 4’24” ahead of the Bartali group. Fausto Coppi struck a single, masterful stroke with an attack on the Pordoi and took the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey) from Bartali. Coppi kept the lead all the way to Milan to claim the Giro victory.

Stage 19: Three stages later he rode into Milan for his second Giro d'Italia victory.

The Giro 1948 gave us another “grand chapter” in this GREAT RIVALRY.

General Classification:

GdI 1946

GdI 1948

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