Giovanni Micheletto Sprinted to a Hard-Fought Victory
The 6th edition of Giro di Lombardia was held on November 6, 1910. The race started in Milan (Corso Sempione) and finished in the Township of Sesto San Giovanni (a suburb of Milan).
The race left Milan at a very lively pace, which split the peloton into small group. A solid breakaway group led the race.
Race Status:
At the first passage from Varese (52 km into the race / 232 km), only 15 riders remained in the lead group. Numerous punctures caused the leaders to lose riders.
As soon as the ascent of Brinzio started (90 km / 232 km), Octave Lapize (Fra) broke the passive pace and attacked.
The French star remained alone over the summit. He soon opened a 4-minute lead on the first group of six chasers, which included Luigi Ganna (Atala), Giovanni Cuniolo (Isolati), Ernesto Azzini (Legnano), Luigi Azzini (Legnano), Domenico Cittera (Legnano), and Giovanni Micheletto (Stucchi).
On the second passage through Varese, Lapize continued to dominate the race.
At the Como checkpoint (125 km / 232 km), the Frenchman claimed a 6'30" lead on the elite chasers.
In Erba (142 km / 232 km), Lapize still held a solid lead with a 7'00” gap to Ganna's group.
In Lecco (157 km / 232 km), he had close to a 10 minute lead over Ganna, Luigi Bailo (Isolati), Giovanni Micheletto (Stucchi) and Domenico Cittera (Legnano), who were alone in pursuit.
Lapize, in full control of the race, began to feel growing fatigue, his pedaling became heavy and his lead fell quickly. Now in full crisis the Frenchman struggled on a major climb. He stopped, got off his bike, and continued the ascent on foot. Back on the bike he shivered from the cold temperatures, and experienced severe intestinal pain, he proceeded slowly. Behind him, Ganna received news of Lapize's crisis and sprinted away from the group.
At the Ponte San Pietro check point, Ganna, Micheletto, and Bailo reach the exhausted Lapize, and pass him at full speed.
In Bergamo (199 km / 232 km), the three had an 11'00” advantage over a solo Cittera in fourth place. Octave Lapize disappeared from the front of the race, a short time later he abandoned.
In Trezzo sull'Adda (215 km / 232 km), the trio still had 7'00” on Cittera and 10'00” on Galetti.
Shortly after Trezzo, Bailo’s pace slowed significantly and he fell behind the breakaway.
There are two left to contend for the victory. Ganna knew he was not as fast in the sprint as Micheletto but continued to drive the pace in the final kilometers.
Atala’s Luigi Ganna (the first winner of the Giro d’Italia in 1909) launched a long sprint, but Giovanni Micheletto (Stucchi) held the wheel, overtook Ganna and crossed the finish line for the prestigious victory.
Luigi Bailo (Isolati) finished in third place.
GdL November 6, 1910 |
232 Km,Milan-Milan (Sesto San Giovanni) |
1.
Giovanni MICHELETTO (Ita) 8h35'32" |
2.
Luigi Ganna (Ita) |
3.
Luigi Bailo (Ita) +4'00" |
Starters: 62 / Finishers: 21 Average Speed: 27.001 km/h |
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Lomb 1909
Lomb 1911
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