A Solo Del Cancia Sets a Record
The 30th Milan-San Remo Classicissima was held on March 19, 1937 (St Joseph's Day). The race started from Conca Fallata (southern suburbs of Milan) at 7:35 am in a steady rain.
SPECIAL NOTE: Missing from the start list was the new Italian superstar Gino Bartali, who was suffering from the effects of pneumonia.
Augusto Introzzi (Gloria), Carlo Romanatti (Bianchi), and Giovanni Valetti (Frejus) attacked early and created the first selection, with Zuccotti (Isolati) and Bernardo Rogora (Gloria) attentively join the breakaway. The five work well together but the peloton did not allow a significant gap.
Race Status:
On the climb of the Turchino Pass (131 km into the race / 282 km), Zuccotti, Rogora, and Romanatti began to struggle with the pace and lose contact with Introzzi and Valetti, who passed the summit first to won the mountain preme.
From behind Francesco Camusso (Gloria) drove the peloton in a single file at 30 seconds.
In Genova-Voltri (155 km / 282 km), a general regrouping occurred. A nine-rider breakaway formed.
When the race entered the Ligurian Coast, dry weather and sunny conditions prevailed.
On the climb in Piani d'Invrea (176 km / 282 km), Camusso escaped the group solo with Enrico Mollo (Frejus), Olimpio Bizzi (Frejus), Elio Bavutti (Frejus), Cesare Del Cancia (Ganna), Michele Benente (Ganna), and Diego Marabelli (Bianchi) immediately taking up the fast pursuit.
Misfortune occurred entering the refueling station in Savona (184 km / 282 km), hometown hero Giuseppe "Gepin" Olmo, M-SR winner in 1935, was hit by a car and forced to retire from the race. Angry local fans rushed the careless driver with ill intent.
At the head of the race in Finale Ligure (205 km / 282 km), the pace of the leaders slowed, and a dozen chasers caught the leaders. Del Cancia took the opportunity to attack. He quickly gained a 34” gap over unconcerned pack.
Riding through Alassio (229 km / 282 km), Del Cancia opened a two-minute gap.
When he passed the final climb of the “Tri Capi,” over the summit of Capo Berta (262 km / 282 km), the young fugitive had an advantage of 1'43".
21-year-old Cesare Del Cancia (Ganna) arrived solo in San Remo with 2'20" lead on 22-year-old Pierino Favalli (Legnano).
The prestigious Milan-San Remo victory was the biggest of Cesare Del Cancia’s career.
Favalli managed to escape from the final chase group in the closing kilometers and finished second.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Del Cancia victory set a new average speed record of 37.386 km/h. *
M-SR March 19, 1937 / 282 Km |
1.
Cesare DEL CANCIA (Ita) 7h31'30" |
2.
Pierino Favalli (Ita) +2'20" |
3.
Marco Cimatti (Ita) +2'50" |
Starters: 138 / Finishers: 68  Average Speed : 37.386 km/h * |
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M-SR 1936
M-SR 1938
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