Gino “the Pious” Wins M-SR
The 32nd Milan-San Remo Classicissima was held on March 19, 1939 (the day of the feast of Saint Joseph).
The race started at 8:03 am from Milan in cold temperatures, gusty wind, and periods of sleet. As a way of warming up the peloton left at high speed. The preme sprints in the small town across the plains of Lombardia broke the race into multiple sections. After regrouping, Primo Zuccotti (Isolati), Lorenzo Mazzarello (Isolati), and Francesco Albani (Lygie) attacked and separated from the peloton.
Race Status:
Before Ovada (110 km into the race / 282 km), the breakaway gained a one-minute lead.
Over the summit of the Turchino Pass (131 km / 282 km), Albani sprinted to the GP della Montagna and collected the mountain preme. The trio held a 4’00” gap on an elite chase group.
On the Colletta climb in Piani d'Invrea (170 km / 282 km), Gino Bartali (Legnano) and Giuseppe Olmo (Bianchi) drove the chase.
Before Savona (190 km / 282 km), the race had another regrouping and a 40-rider peloton reformed at the front of the race.
Mario Vicini (Lygie), Aldo Bini (Bianchi), Piero Chiappini (Il Littoriale), Adriano Vignoli (Bianchi), and Mario Ricci (U.C. Modenese) launched a new attack after Capo Noli in Finale Ligure (212 km / 282 km). Olmo suffered from fatigue, slowed, and retired from the race.
Bartali’s pace slowed and in Loano (220 km / 282 km), he and Osvaldo Bailo (Bianchi) led the chase group but trailed by 1’06”.
On the Capo Mele (242 km / 282 km), Vignoli was dropped from the breakaway. Bartali, now chasing solo, completed a great effort and rejoined the four leaders. Quickly he rode away with only Mario Vicini (Lygie) able to hold his wheel.
In Arma di Taggia, 4 km to the finish line, Bini, Chiappini, and Bailo caught the two leaders.
The five-rider breakaway get to San Remo and jockey for position in the final sprint.
Bartali led out and forced the others into a long sprint. Bini, the fastest sprinter in the group, recovered quickly and moved along side of Bartali. Several power strokes later Gino Bartali (Legnano) surged across the finish to gain the M-SR victory.
Aldo Bini (Bianchi) and Osvaldo Bailo (Bianchi) finished second and thrid respectively.
Gino Bartali sprinted to victory.
M-SR March 19, 1939 / 282 Km |
1.
Gino BARTALI (Ita) 7h31'46" |
2.
Aldo Bini (Ita) |
3.
Osvaldo Bailo (Ita) |
Starters: 145 / Finishers: 54  Average Speed : 37.386 km/h |
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M-SR 1938
M-SR 1940
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