1959 Giro d'Italia

1959 Giro d'Italia 16 May - 7 June 1959 22 3657 km 101h 50' 26" Charly Gaul LUX EMI 1959 pink Jacques Anquetil FRA Helyett-Potin Diego Ronchini ITA Bianchi 1959 Charly Gaul LUX EMI 1959 Angelo Conterno ITA Carpano Atala 1959 1958 1960 The 1959 Giro d'Italia was the 42nd running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. The Giro started in Milan, on 16 May, with a 135 km 1 on stage and concluded back in Milan, on 7 June, with a 220 km 1 on leg. A total of 130 riders from 13 teams entered the 22-stage race, which was won by Luxembourgian Charly Gaul of the EMI 1959 team. The second and third places were taken by Frenchman Jacques Anquetil and Italian Diego Ronchini, respectively.http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/06/08/MD19590608-007.pdf El luxemburgués Gaul gran vencedor es 8 June 1959 7 El Mundo Deportivo 27 May 2012 The Luxembourish Gaul Big Winner https://web.archive.org/web/20160412171626/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/06/08/MD19590608-007.pdf 12 April 2016 live Teams In the weeks preceding the Giro's start, Jacques Anquetil and the Helyett-Potin team were interested in participating in the race; however, they desired an appearance fee.De La Tour 1959 30-31 After calls were made, the team eventually settled on coming to the race.De La Tour 1959 30-31 Ultimately, thirteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1959 edition of the Giro d'Italia.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11761&p=2#page/8/mode/1up I corridori alla partenza Corriere dello Sport 17 May 1959 6 7 July 2013 it Runners at the Start https://web.archive.org/web/20141223210931/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11761&p=2#page/5/mode/1up 23 December 2014 live The team size increased from eight to ten riders per team,van den Akker 2023 20--21 which meant that the race started with a peloton of 130 cyclists. The teams were primarily composed of Italian riders except Faema 1959 and Helyett-Potin.http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1959.html 1959 Giro d'Italia Bike Race Info Bill and Carol McGann Dog Ear Publishing 2012-07-10 From the riders that began the race, 86 made it to the finish in Milan. The teams entering the race were:https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/05/16/page_006.pdf Gli Invitati it 16 May 1959 6 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 PDF The Guests https://web.archive.org/web/20190501010102/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/05/16/page_006.pdf 1 May 2019 dead 22em Atala 1959 Bianchi 1959 Carpano 1959 EMI 1959 Faema 1959 Ghigi 1959 Ignis 1959 Legnano 1959 Molteni Helyett-Potin San Pellegrino Torpado Tricofilina Pre-race favorites Jacques Anquetil and Charly Gaul were seen as favorites to win the race.https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/05/16/page_006.pdf Buona fortuna "Giro"! it 16 May 1959 6 l'Unità Attilio Camoriano PCI 27 May 2012 PDF Good luck "Giro"? https://web.archive.org/web/20190501010102/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/05/16/page_006.pdf 1 May 2019 dead Anquetil entered the Giro with a formidable Helyett-Potin team that included the likes of 1958 Vuelta a España winner Jean Stablinski, the 1958 Tour de France's most "elegant" rider Edouard Delberghe, Irishman Seamus Elliot, and Jean Graczyk.De La Tour 1959 31 When asked about his chances to win the race Anquetil stated: "I know that I am in good shape. If I am beaten, it will mean there are better riders than myself in the race."De La Tour 1959 31 Reigning world champion Ercole Baldini was seen as a contender to win the race, but due to an operation at the beginning of the cycling season he entered the race weighing more than normal.De La Tour 1959 32 Charly Gaul entered as a previous winner of the Giro d'Italia in 1956 Giro d'Italia, as well as the reigning champion of the Tour de France. Faema–Guerra's Rik Van Looy had desires to win a Grand Tour during his career and had previously raced the Giro in 1955 and Vuelta a España in 1958, not finishing either race. However, during the 1959 campaign, Looy won the Giro di Sardegna and Vuelta a Levante, as well as finishing third in the Vuelta a España. Faema–Guerra entered with a completely Belgian team except for German Hans Junkermann and had gotten the nickname "Red Guard" because of their red jerseys, the team was well known for setting up Looy for stage victories. Miguel Poblet stated he was not there just to win stages.http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/05/16/MD19590516-002.pdf <<Mi actuacion en el "Giro" No se Reducira a Ganar Etapas>> - afirma Poblet es 16 May 1959 2 El Mundo Deportivo 27 May 2012 << My performance in the "Giro" will not be reduced to Win Stages >> - says Poblet https://web.archive.org/web/20190501011011/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/05/16/MD19590516-002.pdf 1 May 2019 live Route and stages The route for the race was released on 2 April 1959 at the Casino della Valle in Saint Vincent in front of journalists, local dignitaries, and various industrialists.https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/04/03/page_006.pdf Questo il 42 "Giro" it 3 April 1959 6 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 PDF This the '42 Giro https://web.archive.org/web/20190429200727/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/04/03/page_006.pdf 29 April 2019 dead https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/04/04/page_006.pdf Giudizi sul "Giro" it 4 April 1959 6 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 PDF "Tour" reviews https://web.archive.org/web/20190429195838/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1959/04/04/page_006.pdf 29 April 2019 dead http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11725&p=2#page/1/mode/1up Il Giro d'Italia 1959 Cesare Facetti Corriere dello Sport 3 April 1959 1 & 7 7 July 2013 it The 1959 Tour of Italy https://web.archive.org/web/20190429200423/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11725&p=2%23page%2F1%2Fmode%2F1up#page/1/mode/1up 29 April 2019 livehttp://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/04/03/MD19590403-006.pdf La 42 Vuelta a Italia organizada por la Gazzetta dello Sport de Milan es 3 April 1959 3 El Mundo Deportivo 27 May 2012 The 42 Tour of Italy organized by the Gazzetta dello Sport of Milan https://web.archive.org/web/20190501022541/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1959/04/03/MD19590403-006.pdf 2019-05-01 live There were four individual time trials within the race of which one, stage 7, was a climbing time trial up to Mount Vesuvius. Ten stages contained a total 15 categorized climbs. The only rest day was scheduled on 27 May in Rimini. The race consisted of 22 days of racing and was covered 3657 km 0 on. Regarding the route for the Giro d'Italia, Corriere dello Sport writer Cesare Facetti felt that the route was very difficult and would make it very difficult for a rider to complete the Giro d'Italia and be successful in the Tour de France in late June. + Stage characteristics and winnersStageDateCourseDistanceTypeWinner116 MayMilan to Salsomaggiore Terme135 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Looy BEL217 MaySalsomaggiore Terme to Salsomaggiore Terme22 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Individual time trial Jacques Anquetil FRA318 MaySalsomaggiore Terme to Abetone180 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Charly Gaul LUX419 MayAbetone to Arezzo178 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Armando Pellegrini ITA520 MayArezzo to Rome243 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Rik Van Looy BEL621 MayRome to Naples213 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Miguel Poblet ESP 1945722 MayErcolano to Mount Vesuvius8 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Individual time trial Charly Gaul LUX823 MayIschia to Ischia31 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Individual time trial Antonino Catalano ITA924 MayNaples to Vasto206 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Gastone Nencini ITA1025 MayVasto to Teramo148 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rino Benedettii ITA1126 MayAscoli Piceno to Rimini245 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rik Van Looy BEL1227 MayRimini to City of San Marino (San Marino)141 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Nino Defilippis ITA28 May Rest day1329 MayRimini to Verona233 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Miguel Poblet ESP 19451430 MayVerona to Rovereto143 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Rik Van Looy BEL1531 MayTrento to Bolzano198 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Miguel Poblet ESP 1945161 JuneBolzano to San Pellegrino Terme245 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Alessandro Fantini ITA172 JuneSan Pellegrino Terme to Genoa241 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Arigo Padovan ITA183 JuneGenoa to Turin180 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Vito Favero ITA194 JuneTurin to Susa51 km 0 on22px|link=|alt=Individual time trial Jacques Anquetil FRA205 JuneTurin to Saint-Vincent100 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Alfredo Sabbadin ITA216 JuneAosta to Courmayeur296 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Stage with mountain(s) Charly Gaul LUX227 JuneCourmayeur to Milan220 km 0 on 22px|link=|alt=Plain stage Rolf Graf SUI Total 3657 km 0 on Race overview thumb|Gino Bartali next to Rik Van Looy, stage winner and first pink jersey of the 42nd Giro The race began with the introductions in the Duomo square in front of the Milan cathedral, with Baldini received the loudest ovation upon his introduction.De La Tour 1959 31 The opening leg finished at the famed Spa town Salsomaggiore.De La Tour 1959 31 During the stage, only one breakaway was able to sustain a lengthy advantage over the peloton and that came 76 km 0 on into the race with a solo attack by Darrigade (Helyett).Grote Mannen weren zich in de Ronde van Italië Great Men resist the Tour of Italy nl Delpher https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011234644:mpeg21:p008 De Tijd De Maasbode 19 May 1959 8 He managed to win the intermediate sprint on the course before being joined by six riders and another twenty as the stage wound down; however, the escapees were caught with 8 km 0 on to go. The day ended with a bunch sprint won by Belgian Rik Van Looy.De La Tour 1959 31 The following stage was the first individual time trial of the race, which Anquetil was favored to win.De La Tour 1959 32 Anquetil won the day by twenty-five seconds ahead of Rolf Graf and assumed the race lead.De La Tour 1959 31 He rode the stage on a 52 x 13 gear, which when Gaul found out following the stage said "Nobody, not even Anquetil, can push that gear."De La Tour 1959 32 The first summit finish came with the third leg that ended on the Abetone.De La Tour 1959 32 A twelve-man group containing Looy and Jos Hoevenaers reached the climb first, while a second major group containing the favorites likes Anquetil and Gaul reached the climb after. Gaul attacked at the beginning of the climb and reached the first group alone.De La Tour 1959 32 He rode with them for a short time before attacking and going on solo to win the stage and take the race lead.De La Tour 1959 32 right|thumb|Jacques Anquetil (left) and Charly Gaul (right) riding together during the fourth stage of the race.|alt=Cyclists talking and riding together. Around 49 km 0 on into the fourth stage, near Pistoie, a group of nine broke away from the peloton and established a lead of five minutes that soon grew to eleven as the stage progressed.Gaul moet hard werken om rose trui te behouden Pellegrini wint de vierde etappe Gaul has to work hard to keep pink jersey Pellegrini wins the fourth stage nl Delpher https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:011234645:mpeg21:p006 De Tijd De Maasbode 20 May 1959 6 The peloton reacted and began to increase their tempo, but they did not catch the breakaway. In the breakaway, some riders cracked leaving Arturo Neri, Armando Pellegrini, Aurelio Cestari, and Gastone Nencini at the front. Pellegrini edged out Cestari and Nencini to take the stage, while Neri dropped before the finish line and finished four seconds behind. During the sixth leg into Naples, Seamus Elliot (Helyett–Potin) attacked from the leading breakaway as the stage came to a close, primarily because of sprinter Miguel Poblet's (Ignis) presence in the breakaway.De La Tour 1959 32 He went under one kilometer left before he cramped with 400 m 0 on remaining and was overtaken.De La Tour 1959 32 Poblet won the stage, while Elliot held on to get 10th place.De La Tour 1959 32 The next day's stage was a 9 km 0 on climbing individual time trial along a road on Mount Vesuvius, which ended at the observatory on the volcano.De La Tour 1959 32 As the riders began the time trial in reverse of the standings for the general classification, contenders Anquetil and Gaul were the final two to get on the course.De La Tour 1959 32 Anquetil again chose a larger gear (45 x 20), while Gaul chose a smaller gear (45 x 23).De La Tour 1959 33 Anquetil was faster over the initial stretch of the race which covered the cobblestones, but after that stretch, Gaul closed the gap. Gaul finished eight seconds after Anquetil did, winning the stage by 37 seconds over Guido Boni (Tricofilina).De La Tour 1959 33 A 31 km 0 on time trial followed the next day, but this time it was around the island of Ischia.De La Tour 1959 33 The course was rather hilly and was won by Antonino Catalano (Bianchi), while with respect to the general classification, Anquetil managed to gain 22 seconds on Gaul.De La Tour 1959 33 San Marino was the destination of the twelfth leg and it could be reached by one road when entering from Romini, a steep and rough road. The course featured two and a half circuits before its conclusion uphill.De La Tour 1959 33 Anquetil attacked on the flat roads before the final climb and Nino Defilippis won the stage. Anquetil, who placed third, gained time he gained on the general classification contenders, put him 34 seconds behind the leader Gaul.De La Tour 1959 33 After the leading riders had crossed the Costalunga during the fifteenth day, Gaul descended with an advantage on a group containing Poblet, Anquetil, and Van Looy.De La Tour 1959 33 The riders caught and passed Gaul when he suffered a puncture on the descent.De La Tour 1959 33 The trio opened a large gap and Poblet won the stage, while Gaul crossed 2 minutes and 33 seconds behind.De La Tour 1959 33 This loss gave Anquetil the race lead.De La Tour 1959 33 In the 51 km 0 on time trial to Susa, Anquetil caught Gaul 22 km 0 on into the stage.De La Tour 1959 34 Gaul proceeded to ride in Anquetil's slipstream for the remainder of the stage before Anquetil dropped him in the final kilometer.De La Tour 1959 34 Classification leadership One jersey was worn during the 1959 Giro d'Italia. The leader of the general classification – calculated by adding the stage finish times of each rider – wore a pink jersey. 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 There were no time bonuses in 1959.van den Akker 2023 68 A secondary classification was the mountains classification. The climbs were ranked in first and second categories. In this ranking, points were won by reaching the summit of a climb ahead of other cyclists. There were two categories of mountains.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11761&p=2#page/8/mode/1up Il G. P. della Montagna Corriere dello Sport 17 May 1959 8 7 July 2013 it The G. P. Mountain Trophy https://web.archive.org/web/20150315160621/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11761&p=2 15 March 2015 live The first category awarded 80, 60, 40, 30, and 20 points,http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11763&p=2#page/6/mode/1up G. P. della Montagna Corriere dello Sport 19 May 1959 6 7 July 2013 it The G. P. Mountain Trophy https://web.archive.org/web/20150315162602/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11763&p=2 15 March 2015 live while the second distributed 60, 40, and 20 points.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11764&p=2#page/8/mode/1up Il G. P. della Montagna Corriere dello Sport 20 May 1960 8 7 July 2013 it The G. P. Mountain Trophy https://web.archive.org/web/20150315162906/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11764&p=2 15 March 2015 livevan den Akker 2023 88 There was an intermediate sprints classification. The first three riders at each intermediate sprint received points, 60 for the winner down to 20 for the third.van den Akker 2023 101 Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the teams were awarded points for their rider's performance during the stages.http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11780&p=2#page/14/mode/1up La pagella "Ramazzotti" Corriere dello Sport 8 June 1959 14 7 July 2013 it La pagella "Ramazzotti" https://web.archive.org/web/20150315165745/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=11780&p=2 15 March 2015 live This classification was named the "Ramazzotti" classification, and points were given for high positions in stages, intermediate sprints, mountain tops, and leading the general classification. Bonus points were given to the points scored by a stage winner on mountain passes and intermediate sprints, and for the team that scored the most points.van den Akker 2023 81 +Classification leadership by stagehttps://web.archive.org/web/20240623234653/https://www.tourdefrancestatistieken.nl/giro.php?jaar=1959 23 June 2024 https://www.tourdefrancestatistieken.nl/giro.php?jaar=1959 tourdefrancestatistieken.nl Informatie over de Giro d'Italia van 1959 Stage WinnerGeneral classification25px|link=|alt=A pink jerseyMountains classificationIntermediate sprints classificationTeam classification 1 Rik Van Looy Rik Van Looy not awarded not awarded Faema 1959 2 Jacques Anquetil Jacques Anquetil 3 Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Adriano Zamboni 4 Armando Pellegrini Charly Gaul & Armando Pellegrini EMI 1959 5 Rik Van Looy Charly Gaul & Jos Hoevenaers Angelo Conterno Faema 1959 6 Miguel Poblet 7 Charly Gaul Charly Gaul 8 Antonino Catalano 9 Gastone Nencini EMI 1959 10 Rino Benedettii 11 Rik Van Looy Faema 1959 12 Nino Defilippis EMI 1959 13 Miguel Poblet Faema 1959 14 Rik Van Looy EMI 1959 15 Miguel Poblet Jacques Anquetil 16 Alessandro Fantini 17 Arigo Padovan Atala 1959 18 Vito Favero 19 Jacques Anquetil 20 Alfredo Sabbadin 21 Charly Gaul Charly Gaul 22 Rolf Graf Final Charly Gaul Charly Gaul Angelo Conterno Atala 1959 Final standings Legendvan den Akker 2023 109   20px|alt=Pink jersey   Denotes the winner of the General classification General classification + Final general classification (1–10)http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1959_06/19590608_0003.pdf&query= Graf fugge in vista di Milano e vince con 8" di vantaggio it 8 June 1959 3 l'Unità PCI 27 May 2012 PDF Graf flees in view of Milan and won with 8 "lead https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230504/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1959_06/19590608_0003.pdf&query= 2016-03-03 dead RankNameTeamTime 1 Charly Gaul LUX 20px|link=General classification in the Giro d'Italia|alt=Pink jersey EMI 1959 101h 50' 54" 2 Jacques Anquetil FRA Helyett-Potin + 6' 12" 3 Diego Ronchini ITA Bianchi 1959 + 6' 16" 4 Rik Van Looy BEL Faema 1959 + 7' 17" 5 Imerio Massignan ITA Legnano 1959 + 7' 31" 6 Miguel Poblet ESP 1945 Ignis 1959 + 10' 21" 7 Graziano Battistini ITA Legnano 1959 + 10' 47" 8 Guido Carlesi ITA Molteni + 13' 35" 9 Ernesto Bono ITA San Pellegrino + 13' 36" 10 Gastone Nencini ITA Carpano 1959 + 13' 49" Mountains classification + Final mountains classification (1–10)NameTeamPoints 1 Charly Gaul LUX 20px|link=General classification in the Giro d'Italia|alt=Pink jersey EMI 1959 560 2 Imerio Massignan ITA Legnano 1959 320 3 Hans Junkermann GER Faema 1959 300 4 Vito Favero ITA Atala 1959 250 5 Graziano Battistini ITA Legnano 1959 110 6 Jos Hoevenaers BEL Faema 1959 100 Aurelio Cestari ITA Atala 1959 Angelo Conterno ITA Carpano 1959 9 Pasquale Fornara ITA EMI 1959 90 10 Armando Pellegrini ITA EMI 1959 80 Jacques Anquetil FRA Helyett-Potin Rik Van Looy BEL Faema 1959 Michele Gismondi ITA Tricofilina André Darrigade FRA Helyett-Potin Nino Defilippis ITA Carpano 1959 Intermediate sprints classification + Final intermediate sprints classification (1–8)https://www.tourdefrancestatistieken.nl/girosprints?jaar=1959 https://web.archive.org/web/20240520204958/https://www.tourdefrancestatistieken.nl/girosprints?jaar=1959 20 May 2024 Tussensprints in de Giro van 1959 tourdefrancestatistieken.nlNameTeamPoints 1 Angelo Conterno ITA Carpano 200 2 Guido Carlesi ITA Molteni 140 3 Armando Pellegrini ITA EMI 120 Cleto Maule ITA Carpano Rik Van Looy BEL Faema 6 Rino Benedetti ITA Ghighi 100 Michele Gismondi ITA Tricofilina 8 Ernesto Bono ITA San Pellegrino 80 Team classification + Final team classification (1–10)TeamPoints 1 Atala 1959 4115 2 EMI 1959 3830 3 Faema 1959 2990 4 Carpano 1959 2700 5 Helyett-Potin 2070 6 Legnano 1959 2035 7 Ignis 1959 1980 8 Ghigi 1959 1555 9 Molteni 1190 10 Bianchi 1959 1157.5 Aftermath This was the first edition of the Giro d'Italia where an Italian did not lead the general classification after any stage.http://www.giroditalia.it/eng/editions/1958-1967/ 1959 2017 Giro d'Italia La Gazzetta dello Sport 13 June 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170701124858/http://www.giroditalia.it/eng/editions/1958-1967/ 2017-07-01 live La Gazzetta wrote that the collective performance of the Italians in the Giro did not live up to expectations. References Citations 30em Bibliography De La Tour Rene Mighty Gaul on the Little St. Bernard http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Coureur%20Vol.%203%20No.%208_9%20August_september%201959%20(V-CC%20Library).PDF Coureur Charles Buchan's Publications Ltd. 3 8 and 9 1959 30–36 28 March 2019 28 March 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190328143813/http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Coureur%20Vol.%203%20No.%208_9%20August_september%201959%20(V-CC%20Library).PDF van den Akker Pieter Giro d'Italia, Rules and Statistics 2023 979-8863173719 External links 1959 Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia Giro d'Italia