1954 Giro d'Italia

1954 Giro d'Italia 21 May - 13 June 1954 22 4337 km 129h 13' 07" Carlo Clerici SUI Guerra pink Hugo Koblet SUI Guerra Nino Assirelli ITA Arbos Fausto Coppi ITA Bianchi Rik Van Steenbergen BEL Girardengo Girardengo 1953 1955 The 1954 Giro d'Italia was the 37th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Palermo on 21 May with a 36 km 1 on team time trial and concluded in Milan with a 222 km 1 on relatively flat mass-start stage on 13 June. Fifteen teams entered the race, which was won by Swiss Carlo Clerici of the Welter team. Second and third respectively were Swiss rider Hugo Koblet and Italian Nino Assirelli.http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1954/06/14/MD19540614-001.pdf Dos suizos y un belga es 14 June 1954 1 El Mundo Deportivo 27 May 2012 Two Swiss and a Belgian https://web.archive.org/web/20140305153953/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1954/06/14/MD19540614-001.pdf 5 March 2014 live http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1954/06/14/MD19540614-006.pdf Dos suizos y un belga es 14 June 1954 6 El Mundo Deportivo 27 May 2012 Two Swiss and a Belgian https://web.archive.org/web/20140305144613/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1954/06/14/MD19540614-006.pdf 5 March 2014 live thumb|1954 Giro d'Italia promotional postcard Teams Fifteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1954 edition of the Giro d'Italia.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9626&p=2#page/8/mode/1up I partecipanti Corriere dello Sport 21 May 1954 8 7 July 2013 it Participants https://web.archive.org/web/20141223204933/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9626&p=2 23 December 2014 live The organizers invited neighboring countries to gather a squad of riders to send to compete in the race.http://doc.rero.ch/record/190427/files/1954-05-20.pdf le Tour d'Italie cycliste The Cycling Tour of Italy fr E.U. Nouvelliste Valaisan 20 May 1954 7 https://web.archive.org/web/20191025005247/http://doc.rero.ch/record/190427/files/1954-05-20.pdf 25 October 2019 live RERO Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland all entered a team, while France was offered a spot in the race and accepted, but could not form a team in time. Each team sent a squad of seven riders,http://doc.rero.ch/record/172116/files/1954-05-21.pdf Aujourd'hui débute le Tour d'Italie Today begins the Tour of Italy fr Feuille d'Avis du Valais 21 May 1954 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20191025004033/http://doc.rero.ch/record/172116/files/1954-05-21.pdf 25 October 2019 live RERO which meant that the race started with a peloton of 105 cyclists. From the riders that began the race, 67 made it to the finish in Milan.http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1954.html 1954 Giro d'Italia Bike Race Info Bill and Carol McGann Dog Ear Publishing 2012-07-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20140227193749/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1954.html 27 February 2014 live The five national teams were all sponsored by bicycle factories:http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,4/articleid,0053_01_1954_0121_0004_14429152/ it 22 May 1954 4 Fausto Coppi al comando della classifica dopo la prima tappa del Giro d'Italia La Stampa Editrice La Stampa 27 May 2012 PDF Fausto Coppi leading the standings after the first stage of the Tour of ItalyAttilio Camoriano http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1954_05/19540522_0005.pdf La Bianchi vince la tappa a cronometro e il "campionissimo,, si veste già di rosa it 22 May 1954 5 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 The Bianchi won the time trial stage and the "champion" is already pink dress https://web.archive.org/web/20140714164144/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1954_05/19540522_0005.pdf 2014-07-14 dead Belgium, sponsored by Girardengo Germany, sponsored by Clement The Netherlands, sponsored by Locomotief Spain, sponsored by Ideor Switzerland, sponsored by Guerra The ten other teams from Italy were: 9em Bianchi Arbos 1954 Atala 1954 Bartali 1954 Bottecchia 1954 Doniselli-Lansetina Frejus 1954 Legnano 1954 Nivea-Fuchs Torpado 1954 Pre-race favorites Fausto Coppi (Bianchi) was seen as the clear–cut favorite, because of the strength of his supporting team.http://doc.rero.ch/record/100092/files/1954-05-21.pdf Les plus grands noms du cyclisme au départ du Tour d'Italie The biggest names in cycling at the start of the Giro d'Italia fr L'Impartial 21 May 1954 9 https://web.archive.org/web/20191025003316/http://doc.rero.ch/record/100092/files/1954-05-21.pdf 25 October 2019 live RERO Coppi's greatest challenger was thought to be Hugo Koblet (Cilo).http://doc.rero.ch/record/228363/files/1954-05-20.pdf Dès vendredi, Koblet et Coppi s'affronteront dans le Giro From Friday, Koblet and Coppi will compete in the Giro fr La Sentinelle 20 May 1954 6 https://web.archive.org/web/20191025004711/http://doc.rero.ch/record/228363/files/1954-05-20.pdf 25 October 2019 live RERO Koblet entered the race in what was regarded as not great form, but if he were to gain his form in the race, then his chances of victory would be large. A La Sentinelle writer felt that Koblet's presence made the competition interesting as it felt no other rider could challenge Coppi. Koblet was thought to have a better support from his team relative to the past couple of years and was expected to contend for the general classification.http://doc.rero.ch/record/130828/files/1954-05-21.pdf L'équipe suisse au Tour d'Italie The Swiss team in the Tour of Italy fr Le Confédéré 21 May 1954 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20191025003642/http://doc.rero.ch/record/130828/files/1954-05-21.pdf 25 October 2019 live RERO Outside candidates included Fiorenzo Magni (Nivea) who would normally be considered a more legitimate contender; however, he was recovering from a fall in the one–day race Roma–Napoli–Roma. Roma-Napoli-Roma winner Bruno Monti (Arbos) and Pasquale Fornara (Bottecchia) were seen as other challengers. "Old" three–time champion Gino Bartali (Bartali) lined up to race while being supported by his usual domestiques Corrieri and Bresci. While noting that the Giro had been primarily won by Italian riders, Feuille d'Avis Valaisan felt the teams with Belgians, Spanish, and Swiss teams would have a good chance to rival the Italian squads. Nouvelliste Valasain writer even commented that a coalition of some sort exists between Italian riders against the foreign riders. Girardengo-Eldorado riders Stan Ockers and Rik Van Steenbergen were seen as the best Belgian entrants. Their Raymond Impanis was seen a potential threat, but due to disputes with their team director, his participation was questionable. Heinz Müller was the German Clement team's best chance. The Dutch team Locomotief was thought to be filled with good climbers and rouleurs with the likes of Wim Van Est, Wout Wagtmans, and the Voorting brothers Adrie and Gerrit. The team was expected to do well in the opening team time trial. Spanish Climber Jesus Loroño (Ideor) was seen as a contender in the mountains after his performance at the 1953 Tour de France, where he won as a stage and the Mountains classification. Bernardo Ruiz and Francisco Masip were two other Spanish riders to watch. Fritz Schär (Guerra) was seen as a rider who would favor the intermediate sprints classification despite his recent poor performance at the Tour de Romandie. Carlo Clerici (Welter) was thought to have "class and will." Notable absences included Ferdinand Kübler (Fiorelli) who had an ongoing dispute with the race organizers following his abandonment of the Giro the year before. Louison Bobet (Mercier) was seen as a rider who could pose a threat to Coppi, but due to previous incidents of giving him up, he was not seen as a strong contender. Route and stages The route's first fourteen stages were revealed on 25 February 1954,http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9554&p=1#page/1/mode/1up Roma esclusa dal Giro d'Italia Corriere dello Sport 26 February 1954 1 & 6 7 July 2013 it Rome excluded from the Tour of Italy https://web.archive.org/web/20190503191102/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9554&p=1#page/1/mode/2up 3 May 2019 livehttps://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1954/02/26/page_005.pdf Le prime 14 tappe del Giro d'Italia it 26 February 1954 5 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 The first fourteen stages of the Tour of Italy https://web.archive.org/web/20190503194539/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1954/02/26/page_005.pdf 3 May 2019 amid speculation that Rome was not going to be included.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9551&p=1#page/1/mode/1up Roma senza "Giro"? Ennio Mantella Corriere dello Sport 23 February 1954 1 & 6 7 July 2013 it Rome without "Giro"? https://web.archive.org/web/20190503203453/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9551&p=1#page/1/mode/2up 3 May 2019 livehttp://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9552&p=1#page/1/mode/1up A Roma i "Mondiali" di ciclismo il "Giro" saltera invece l'Urbe? Corriere dello Sport 24 February 1954 1 & 5 7 July 2013 it In Rome the "World Cup" of cycling the "Giro" will jump instead Urbe? https://web.archive.org/web/20190503203941/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9552&p=1 3 May 2019 live The rest was revealed on 6 May 1954.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9612&p=1#page/1/mode/2up Il completo percorso del Giro d'Italia verra reso noto domani Corriere dello Sport 5 May 1954 1 & 4 7 July 2013 it The complete course of the Giro d'Italia will be announced tomorrow https://web.archive.org/web/20190503201356/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9612&p=1#page/1/mode/2up 3 May 2019 livehttp://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9614&p=1#page/4/mode/1up Il Giro d'Italia sviluppera 4329 chilometria Corriere dello Sport 7 May 1954 6 7 July 2013 it The Giro d'Italia will develop 4329 kilometers https://web.archive.org/web/20190503202455/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9614&p=1#page/1/mode/2up 3 May 2019 live The route included two time trials, one team and one individual, and was the longest Giro as of 2023;van den Akker 2023 6 the fourth stage is the only post-WWII Giro stage longer than 350 km.van den Akker 2023 43 The inclusion of the team time trial was criticized as it was thought to give too much of an advantage to the wealthier teams. In addition, the team time trial that year was held midway through the race and several teams were down men through disease or abandonment, which only further hindered teams. To assuage this complaint of the teams, the team time trial stage was made first. Critics felt that the route would be similar to year's past, where all the action would be in the closing days, citing the 20th and 21st stages as being the most difficult. The press felt that the increased number of intermediate sprints would lead to more attacks throughout the stage ad help animate the race. The race started in Palermo for the first time since 1949. + Stage characteristics and resultsStageDateCourseDistanceTypeWinner121 MayPalermo36 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Team time trial Bianchi222 MayPalermo to Taormina280 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Giuseppe Minardi ITA323 MayReggio Calabria to Catanzaro172 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Nino Defilippis ITA424 MayCatanzaro to Bari352 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Angelo Conterno ITA25 May Rest day526 MayBari to Naples279 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Steenbergen BEL627 MayNaples to L'Aquila252 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Carlo Clerici SUI728 MayL'Aquila to Rome150 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Giorgio Albani ITA829 MayRome to Chianciano Terme195 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Giovanni Pettinati ITA930 MayChianciano Terme to Florence180 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Giovanni Corrieri ITA1031 MayFlorence to Cesenatico211 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Pietro Giudici ITA111 JuneCesenatico to Abetone230 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Mauro Gianneschi ITA122 JuneAbetone to Genoa251 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Hilaire Couvreur BEL133 JuneGenoa to Turin211 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Wout Wagtmans NED144 JuneTurin to Brescia240 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Annibale Brasola ITA5 June Rest day156 JuneGardone Riviera to Riva del Garda42 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Individual time trial Hugo Koblet SUI167 JuneRiva del Garda to Abano Terme131 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Steenbergen BEL178 JuneAbano Terme to Padua105 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Steenbergen BEL189 JunePadua to Grado177 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Adolfo Grosso ITA1910 JuneGrado to San Martino di Castrozza247 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Wout Wagtmans NED2011 JuneSan Martino di Castrozza to Bolzano152 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Fausto Coppi ITA2112 JuneBolzano to Saint Moritz (Switzerland)222 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Hugo Koblet SUI2213 JuneSaint Moritz (Switzerland) to Milan222 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Steenbergen BEL Total 4337 km 0 on Race overview In the sixth stage, Carlo Clerici escaped and took the lead with a big margin.http://www.bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1954.html 1954 Giro d'Italia McGann publishing 5 September 2015 Before the tenth stage, the German team had already lost four of its seven riders, and in that tenth stage one German rider finished outside of the time limit. The German team thus only had two riders remaining, and saw no reason to continue. The possibility to combine the German team with the Dutch team (which had also lost riders already) was discussed, but was not allowed by the Giro organisation, so the German team left the race.van den Akker 2023 26 In the twentieth stage, Fausto Coppi won and took some time back. His fans were hoping that he would show more action on the twenty-first stage which included the Bernina Pass, but cyclists rode slowly as a form of protest against the racing conditions, taking almost ten hours to cover the 222 km stage; this event became known as the Bernina strike. When the race ended in Milan the next day, angry supporters whistled at the cyclists. For his leading role in the strike, Coppi was given a two-month suspension, although this was later revoked.http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/features/?id=2004/colnago1 Tales from the classic peloton, January 8, 2004 Tim Maloney 8 January 2004 Future Publishing Limited Cyclingnews 5 September 2015 Classification leadership The leader of the general classification – calculated by adding the stage finish times of each rider – wore a pink jersey; the Giro of 1954 had no time bonuses.van den Akker 2023 68 This classification is the most important of the race, and its winner is considered as the winner of the Giro.Laura Weislo http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08 Giro d'Italia classifications demystified 13 May 2008 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130508234448/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08 8 May 2013 live The winner of the general classification received 72,000 francs. In total 32,555,000 lire (then roughly 227,000 Swiss francs) was awarded. Each day a rider wore the pink jersey, he would win 15,000 francs. Each stage winner received 49,000 francs. There may have been a green jersey was awarded to the best ranked foreign rider in the general classification, who also received a sum of money each day the jersey was awarded, as in the previous years: some sources say there was a jersey, others indicate there is doubt,https://web.archive.org/web/20230128092639/http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/pelotons/sets.php?s=81 http://www.memoire-du-cyclisme.eu/pelotons/sets.php?s=81 28 January 2023 Memoire du Cyclisme Les maillots du Tour d'Italie 1954 French The jerseys of the 1954 Giro d'Italia others indicate there was no jersey.van den Akker 2023 109 The mountains classification awarded all awarded three points to the first rider and one point to the second rider to cross the summit of a categorized climb.http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,1/articleid,1593_02_1954_0138_0009_22079968/ it 12 June 1954 9 Koblet 1 a Saint Moritz Stampa Sera Editrice La Stampa 27 May 2012 PDF Koblet 1st in Saint Moritzvan den Akker 2023 88 There was no leader's jersey awarded for this classification. The winner received 10,000 francs. In the gran premio traguardi volanti or intermediate sprint classification points were awarded at designated sprint locations throughout each stage's route and at the stage finishes.van den Akker 2023 98In total there were 64 designated sprint points throughout the race. Points were awarded to the first three riders to pass through the assigned point: first received five points, second received three points, and third received one point. The winner of each sprint will receive 650 francs, while the overall classification winner received 81,000 francs. The leader of this classification wore a white jersey. Although no jersey was awarded, there was also a classification for the teams, which was calculated as the total points earned per team in the intermediate sprints classification. +Classification leadership by stage Stage WinnerGeneral classification25px|link=|alt=A pink jerseyMountains classificationTeam classification 1 Bianchi Fausto Coppi not awarded Bianchi 2 Giuseppe Minardi Giuseppe Minardi Giuseppe Minardi Legnano 3 Nino Defilippis Guerra 4 Angelo Conterno Girardengo 5 Rik Van Steenbergen Gerrit Voorting 6 Carlo Clerici Carlo Clerici 7 Giorgio Albani 8 Giovanni Pettinati 9 Giovanni Corrieri 10 Pietro Giudici Giuseppe Minardi & Primo Volpi 11 Mauro Gianneschi Mauro Gianneschi, Giuseppe Minardi & Primo Volpi 12 Hilaire Couvreur 13 Wout Wagtmans 14 Annibale Brasola 15 Hugo Koblet 16 Rik Van Steenbergen 17 Rik Van Steenbergen 18 Adolfo Grosso 19 Wout Wagtmans 20 Fausto Coppi Fausto Coppi 21 Hugo Koblet 22 Rik Van Steenbergen Final Carlo Clerici Fausto Coppi Girardengo Final standings Legendvan den Akker 2023 109   20px|alt=Pink jersey   Denotes the winner of the General classification   20px|alt=A white jersey   Denotes the winner of the intermediate sprints classification General classification + Final general classification (1–10)Attilio Camoriano http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1954_06/19540614_0004.pdf A Carlo Clerici il 37 Giro ciclistico d'Italia it 14 June 1954 4 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 A Carlo Clerici 37th Cycling Tour of Italy https://web.archive.org/web/20140714172933/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1954_06/19540614_0004.pdf 2014-07-14 dead http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,1593_02_1954_0139_0005_22079868/ it 14 June 1954 5 I distacchi dalla maglia rosa Stampa Sera Editrice La Stampa 27 May 2012 PDF The distances from the pink jerseyRankNameTeamTime 1 Carlo Clerici SUI 20px|link=General classification in the Giro d'Italia|alt=Pink jersey Guerra 129h 13' 07" 2 Hugo Koblet SUI Guerra + 24' 16" 3 Nino Assirelli ITA Arbos + 26' 28" 4 Fausto Coppi ITA Bianchi + 31' 17" 5 Giancarlo Astrua ITA Atala + 33' 09" 6 Fiorenzo Magni ITA Nivea + 34' 01" 7 Gerrit Voorting NED Locomotief + 35' 05" 8 Pasquale Fornara ITA Bottecchia + 36' 21" 9 Fritz Schär SUI Guerra + 40' 51" 10 Angelo Conterno ITA Fréjus + 41' 07" Mountains classification + Final mountains classification (1–8)NameTeamPoints 1 Fausto Coppi ITA Bianchi 6 2 Giancarlo Astrua ITA Atala 5 3 Primo Volpi ITA Arbos 3 Mauro Gianneschi ITA Arbos Vincenzo Rossello ITA Nivea Angelo Conterno ITA Fréjus 7 Pasquale Fornara ITA Bottecchia 2 8 Gerrit Voorting NED Locomotief 1 Adolfo Grosso ITA Atala Nino Defilippis ITA Torpado Jesus Loroño ESP 1945 Ideor Intermediate sprints classification + Final intermediate sprints classification (1–8)http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9646&p=1#page/11/mode/1up Classifica generale individuale T. V. Corriere dello Sport 14 June 1954 11 7 July 2013 it Individual T.V. classification https://web.archive.org/web/20141222233444/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9646&p=1 22 December 2014 liveNameTeamPoints 1 Rik Van Steenbergen BEL Girardengo 113 2 Rino Benedetti ITA Legnano 45 3 Giorgio Albani ITA Legnano 42 4 Guido De Santi ITA Bottecchia 29 5 Adolfo Grosso ITA Atala 25 6 Giovanni Pettinati ITA Torpado 20 7 Giovanni Corrieri ITA Bartali 19 8 Renzo Soldani ITA Doniselli 18 Hilaire Couvreur BEL Girardengo Renato Ponzini ITA Arbos Team classification + Final team classification (1–10)http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9646&p=1#page/11/mode/1up Classifica a squadre dei traguardi volanti Corriere dello Sport 14 June 1954 11 7 July 2013 it Ranked teams of sprints https://web.archive.org/web/20141222233444/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9646&p=1 22 December 2014 liveTeamPoints 1 Girardengo 152 2 Legnano 101 3 Bottecchia 71 4 Arbos 61 5 Torpado 47 6 Bianchi 45 7 Atala 43 8 Locomotif 40 9 Doniselli-Lansetina 34 10 Nivea-Fuchs 30 Aftermath Following the race, a Nouvelliste Valaisan writer described how non-Italian riders dominated the race by winning 11 of the 22 stage, while having 35 foreigners riding to 75 Italians starting the race.http://doc.rero.ch/record/190446/files/1954-06-14.pdf Apres le Tour d'Italie cycliste After the cycling Tour of Italy fr E.U. Nouvelliste Valaisan 14 June 1954 4 https://web.archive.org/web/20191001040226/http://doc.rero.ch/record/190446/files/1954-06-14.pdf 1 October 2019 live RERO The writer acknowledged that some critics felt Italian cycling was beginning to decline as the "Big Three" Bartali, Coppi, and Magni would be soon exiting the sport;http://doc.rero.ch/record/178408/files/1954-06-15.pdf Le Giro a pris fin sur un double succes suisse The Giro ended on a Swiss double success fr Le Rhône 15 June 1954 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20191001043611/http://doc.rero.ch/record/178408/files/1954-06-15.pdf 1 October 2019 live RERO however, the writer noted that Giancarlo Astrua, Nino Defilippis, Pasquale Fornara, among others would help maintain Italian cycling's presence. In particular, the writer felt the younger riders attacked more and forced the older riders out of their reserves quicker than expected. The writer concluded that the Swiss riders have earned respect from their peers and become favorites entering races now, while stating that the Swiss riders that will contest the upcoming Tour de France will have a lengthy time off to rest before its start because of the 1954 FIFA World Cup. A Nouvelliste Valaisan writer wrote that large attacks were expected on the 21st stage which featured the Bernina pass; however, the attacks did not come, which at the time they speculated it was due to fatigue of the riders.http://doc.rero.ch/record/190447/files/1954-06-15.pdf Le Tour d'Italie cycliste Triomphe final de Clerici The Cycling Tour of Italy Clerici's final triumph fr Nouvelliste Valaisan 15 June 1950 4 https://web.archive.org/web/20191001040200/http://doc.rero.ch/record/190447/files/1954-06-15.pdf 1 October 2019 live RERO Due to the low effort by the riders and slow stage speed, race organizers cut the prize money on the stage by half.http://doc.rero.ch/record/228382/files/1954-06-14.pdf Carlo Clerici remporte le Tour d'Italie devant Hugo Koblet Carlo Clerici wins the Giro d'Italia ahead of Hugo Koblet fr La Sentinelle 14 June 1950 4 https://web.archive.org/web/20191001044329/http://doc.rero.ch/record/228382/files/1954-06-14.pdf 1 October 2019 live RERO The Italian Cycling Federation was so unhappy with what they perceived as a strike, that they did not send an Italian team to the 1954 Tour de France.https://memoire-du-cyclisme.org/eta_tdf/tdf1954.html 41ème Tour de France 1954 41st Tour de France 1954 Memoire du Cyclisme French Later this inaction by the peloton on the 21st stage became known as the "Bernina strike." Another Nouvelliste Valaisan writer described the collective performance by the Swiss riders as the best in the nation's history at the Giro, as three finished in the top 12 of the general classification. References Citations 30em Bibliography Gallagher Brendan Corsa Rosa: A History of the Giro D'Italia A Race for All Shapes, Sizes and Nationalities (1954-66) 1st Bloomsbury Publishing 2017 London, UK https://books.google.com/books?id=V97oDAAAQBAJ 978-1-4729-1881-9 van den Akker Pieter Giro d'Italia, Rules and Statistics 2023 979-8863173719 1954 Category:1954 in Italian sport Category:1954 in road cycling Category:May 1954 sports events in Europe Category:June 1954 sports events in Europe Category:1954 Challenge Desgrange-Colombo