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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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Merckx Returns with a Vengeance
RECAP (Previous Year): Eddy Merckx dominated the 1969 Giro d’Italia, but found controversy on stage 16. While he was leading the race through 16 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 positive and action had to be taken. Merckx was disqualified.
Eddy Merckx’s Italian “Team Faemino” encouraged the Belgian to race the Giro d’Italia in 1970. Merckx relented and returned to the race with a vengeance. He had three stage wins and took the Maglia Rosa with a stage 7 breakaway win. The inspired Belgian solidified his race lead with another stage win in the 56 km individual time trial in Treviso.
Eddy Merckx!!!
Eddy Merckx dominated and rode across the finish line in Bolzano to gain his second Giro d’Italia victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: In 1970 the Red Points Jersey  was change to the Maglia Ciclamino  .
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 San Pellegrino-Biandronno, 115 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 2 Comerio-St Vincent, 164 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 3 St Vincent-Aosta, 162 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 4 St Vincent-Lodi, 205 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 5 Lodi-Zingonia, 155 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 6 Zingonia-Malcesine, 212 km |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Stage 7 Malcesine-Brentonico, 130 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 8 Rovereto-Bassano Grappa, 130 km |
Walter Godefroot (Bel) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 9 Bassano Grappa-Treviso, 56 km ITT |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 10 Terracina-Rivisondoli, 172 km |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 11 Rivisondoli-Francavilla, 180 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 12 Francavilla-Loreto, 175 km |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 13 Loreto-Faenza, 188 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 14 Faenza-Casciana Terme, 218 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 15 Casciana Terme-Mirandola, 215 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 16 Mirandola-Lido Jesolo, 195 km |
Dino Zandegu (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 17 Jesolo-Arta Terme, 165 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 18 Arta Terme-Marmolada, 180 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 19 Rocca Pietore-Dobbiaco, 120 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 20 Dobbiaco-Bolzano, 155 km |
Luciano Armani (Ita) |
 Eddy Merckx (Bel)
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Mountain Classification |
Martin Van Den Bossche (Bel) |
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Points Classification |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
GdI May 18 - June 7, 1970 |
| 3,292 Km |
1.Eddy MERCKX (Bel) 90h08'47" |
| 2. Felice Gimondi (Ita) +3'14" |
| 3.
Martin Van Den Bossche (Bel) +4'59" |
Starters: 130 |
| Finishers: 97 |
Average Speed: 36.518 km/h |
GdI 1971
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Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
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