| Binda's Revenge
The 27th edition of the Giro di Lombardia was on October 25, 1931. The race was billed as an all-out battle between Italian Campionissimo Alfredo Binda, defending champion Michele Mara, and newly crowned World Champion Learco Guerra.
The race started in Milan at 7:14 AM under heavy rain.
On the initial flat sections, the riders managed a fast start, with the main peloton remaining intact until the approach to the Madonna del Ghisallo climb.
Race Status:
The first significant action occurred on the Ghisallo (75 km / 234 km), where Remo Bertoni (Legnano) crested the summit first with 45 seconds on Luigi Marchisio (Legnano), 1’15” on Domenico Piemontesi (Bianchi), and 2’00” on Alfredo Binda (Legnano) and Alfredo Bovet (Bianchi) World champion Learco Guerra, suffering from a recent illness, trailed at 7’45” behind the leader.
On the descent of the Ghisallo, Marchisio bridged to his solo teammate Bertoni.
The race headed for the hills of northern Lombardia.
At the Como checkpoint (115 km / 234 km), the pair still held a 25” lead over a Binda led chase group.
On the steep climb of San Fermo della Battaglia (125 km / 234 km), Binda launched a decisive attack and bridged the gap to Bertoni and Marchisio. The trio rode away from the chasers.
By Malnate (144 km / 234 km), persistent rain adding to the difficulty of the race and an already struggling Learco Guerra abandoned the race.
On the Viggiù climb (151 km / 234 km), Marchisio (Legnano) cracked and fell off the breakaway’s pace. He trailed by 1’15”, while the chase group was 6’00” behind.
Bertoni continued to work for his teammate Binda before dropping back after Porto Ceresio (144 km / 234 km), leaving Binda alone on the front.
An aggressive Alfredo Binda left little doubt of his superiority when he broke away solo to win the “Race of the Falling Leaves” by over 18 minutes.
SPECIAL NOTE: Alfredo Binda became the third rider to score a difficult “Milan-San Remo / Lombardia” double victory in the same year. Costante Girardengo scored the ‘double’ in 1921, and Michele Mara accomplished it in 1930.
GdL October 25, 1931 |
234 Km, Milan-Milan |
1.
Alfredo BINDA (Ita) 8h29'00" |
2.
Michele Mara (Ita) +18'33" |
3.
Angelo Firpo (Ita) |
Starters: 111 / Finishers: 32 Average Speed: 27.583 km/h |
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Lomb 1930
Lomb 1932
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