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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian |
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Bartali Beats Coppi… the Rivalry Continues to Grow
Following the War, defending champion (Giro 1940) Fausto Coppi had moved from Gino Bartali's Legnano team to the Bianchi team. Now riding for separate teams their rivalry would flourish.
The two superstars of Italian cycling battled from the start in Milan, around Italy and back to the finish in Milan. Along the way, one of the two rivals won every major climb. Through the Alps Coppi went on a 3 stage rampage, but could only gain seconds on an ever-vigilant Bartali.
At Vigorelli Velodrome finish line in Milan Gino Bartali held on for a 47 second victory over Fausto Coppi. Third place on the stage finished over 15 minutes behind the pair.
Cycling fans were witnessing one of the greatest rivalries in sports history. This rivalry would continue to flourish for a decade to come and entertain sports fans everywhere.
SPECIAL NOTE: Stage 13 from Rovigo to Trieste had to be stopped when turmoil hit the caravan. Stones were thrown and gunshots fired to disrupte the race. The stage was cancelled and riders transported to Trieste on trucks.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Milan-Torino, 185 km |
Giordano Cottur (Ita) |
Giordano Cottur (Ita) |
Stage 2 Torino-Genova, 190 km |
Ant. Bevilacqua (Ita) |
Antonio Bevilacqua (Ita) |
Stage 3 Genova-Montecatini, 222 km |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
Antonio Bevilacqua (Ita) |
Stage 4 Montecatini-Prato, 40 km ITT |
Antonio Bevilacqua (Ita) |
Antonio Bevilacqua (Ita) |
Stage 5 Prato-Bologna, 112 km |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Fermo Camellini (Ita) |
Stage 6a Bologna-Cesena, 80 km |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Fermo Camellini (Ita) |
Stage 6b Cesena-Ancona, 128 km |
Aldo Bini (Ita) |
Fermo Camellini (Ita) |
Stage 7 Ancona-Chieti, 170 km |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Fermo Camellini (Ita) |
Stage 8 Chieti-Napoli, 244 km |
Mario Ricci (Ita) |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 9 Napoli-Rome, 226 km |
Elio Bertocchi (Ita) |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 10 Rome-Perugia, 191 km |
Aldo Baito (Ita) |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 11 Perugia-Firenze, 165 km |
Renzo Zanazzi (Ita) |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 12 Firenze-Rovigo, 245 km |
Oreste Conte (Ita) |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 13 Rovigo-Trieste * Canceled |
* Stage Stopped |
Vito Ortelli (Ita) |
Stage 14 Udine-Auronzo, 124 km |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Stage 15 Auronzo-Bassano, 203 km |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Stage 16 Bassano-Trento, 186 km |
Aldo Ronconi (Ita) |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Stage 17a Trento-Verona, 90 km |
Oreste Conte (Ita) |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Stage 17b Verona-Mantova, 72 km |
Elio Bertocchi (Ita) |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Stage 18 Mantova-Milan, 176 km |
Oreste Conte (Ita) |
 Gino Bartali (Ita)
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Mountain Classification |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
GdI June 15 - July 7, 1946 |
| 3,039 Km |
1. Gino BARTALI (Ita) 65h32'20" |
| 2. Fausto Coppi (Ita) +47" |
| 3.
Vito Ortelli (Ita) +15'28" |
Starters: 79 |
Finishers: 40 |
Average Speed: 33.948 km/h |
GdI 1947
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Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
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