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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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Grand Italian’s Final Giro
The 1978 marked the final Giro d’Italia for a grand Italian champion. The 36 year old Felice Gimondi, a three time Giro champion handed the "torch of Italian cycling" to a new generation of talented riders. Gimondi finished 11th 3’35” behind 1976 runner-up Johan De Muynck.
SPECIAL NOTE: The media described the 1978 race route as made for an “all-rounder”, which was perfect for Italian star Francesco Moser.
Giuseppe Saronni, Francesco Moser and Belgian Rik Van Linden battle through the flat stages before solid Belgian “all-rounder” De Muynck made the decisive move of the race on stage 3. De Muynck soloed into Cascina for the stage win and a 52 second time gain on all the contenders.
Over the next 18 stages De Muynck controlled every contender’s attack and rode into Milan for a 59 second victory over Italian Gianbattista Baronchelli.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue Saint Vincent, 2 km ITT |
Dietrich Thurau (Ger) |
* Prol. time didn't count on the GC |
Stage 1 St Vincent-Novi Ligure, 175 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Stage 2 Novi Ligure-La Spezia, 195 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Stage 3 La Spezia-Cascina, 183 km |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 4 Larciano-Pistoia, 25 km ITT |
Dietrich Thurau (Ger) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 5 Prato-Cattolica, 200 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 6 Cattolica-Silvi Marina, 218 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 7 Silvi Marina-Benevento, 237 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 8 Bevenento-Ravello, 175 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 9 Amalfi-Latina, 248 km |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 10 Latina-Lago di Piediluco, 220 km |
Giuseppe Martinelli (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 11a Terni-Assisi, 74 km |
Bruno Zanoni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 11b Assisi-Siena, 145 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 12 Poggibonsi-Monte Trebbio, 204 km |
Giancarlo Bellini (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 13 Modigliano-Padova, 183 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 14 Venezia-San Marco, 12 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 15 Treviso-Canazei, 220 km |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 16 Solaria-Cavalese, 45.5 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 17 Cavalese-Monte Bondone, 205 km |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 18 Mezzo Lombardo-Sarezzo, 245 km |
Giuseppe Perletto (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 19 Brescia-Inverigo, 175 km |
Vittorio Algeri (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 20 Inverigo-Milan, 226 km |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
 Johan De Muynck (Bel)
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Mountain Classification |
 Ueli Sutter (Sui)
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Points Classification |
 Francesco Moser (Ita)
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GdI May 07 to May 28, 1978 |
| 3.610.5 Km |
1. Johan DE MUYNCK (Bel) 101h31'22" |
| 2. Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) +59" |
| 3.
Francesco Moser (Ita) +2'19" |
Starters: 130 |
| Finishers: 90 |
Average Speed: 35.563 km/h |
GdI 1979
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