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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
GdI May 17 - June 9, 1940 |
3,574 Km |
Starters: 91 (* 97, but 6 Ganna DNS)
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Finishers: 47 |
Average Speed: 33.240 km/h |
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A Youthful Coppi Wins Before the War
The 1940 Giro d'Italia was the 28th edition of Italy’s Grand Tour. A young Fausto Coppi came to his first Giro as part of the powerful Legnano team headed by Gino Bartali.
Even with military conflicts raging around Europe and the World, the Giro, with the strong encouragement of Prime Minister Benito Mussolini, started on May 17, 1940 in Milan. The starting riders were almost entirely Italian except for a Belgium-Dutch squad that had planned to ride in support of Ganna, but after diplomatic clearance were denied their travel to Italy was impossible.
Gino Bartali, the leader of the powerful Legnano team, hired a new gregario (team helper) named Fausto Coppi.
SPECIAL NOTE: While Italy was involved in the Second World War, Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini tried to keep the bicycle races going. However, the Giro d’Italia consumed so much gasoline, food, and other supplies, it was hindering Italy's war efforts. The yearly Giro did not return in 1941.
SPECIAL NOTE: Bartali studied the route for the Giro intensely during the winter months and did numerous reconnaissance rides. He befriended local business owners with the hopes of learning more about local roads and the anticipated weather conditions during the race.
Teams:
The eight trade teams entered the Giro were:
- Bianchi
- Gerbi
- Ganna (did not start the race)
- Gloria
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Each trade team was composed of six to eight riders.
There were ten teams from special Groups, which entered five to eight riders each:
- U.C. Modenese (Groups)
- S.C. Binda (Groups)
- Il Littoriale (Groups)
- GS Battisti-Aquilano (Groups)
- Cicli Viscontea (Groups)
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- La Voce di Mantova (Groups)
- Dopolavoro Bamberg (Groups)
- Dop. Azzini-Vismara (Groups)
- S.S. Parioli (Groups)
- G.S. Mate (Groups)
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Race Summary:
Stage 3: While descending the Passo della Scoffera Gino Bartali crashed into a dog early on stage 3. Injured he returned to his bike and continued the stage. After the stage, a doctor’s examination led to the diagnosis of a dislocated elbow and strained muscles. The recommendation was to abandon the Giro… but Bartali elected to remain the race!
Bartali leading Coppi and the breakaway
Stage 5: When Bartali began to struggle on stage 5 young Fausto Coppi gained permission from his team leader to join the stage’s breakaway. After bridging to the break Coppi crashed heavily and broke his bike, losing critical time on the stage.
Stage 8: Coppi was proving to be a superb talent, who might be able to do something good in this Giro. Coppi again suffered misfortunes when an accident with a car destroyed another bike. As a sign of Coppi’s improving status within the team, his team director told teammate Mario Ricci to give his bike to Coppi after the eighth stage crash. Coppi managed to contain his time loss to 3’06” on the stage.
Stage 11: 184 km from Florence to Modena, Stage eleven had three major passes, including the tough Abetone ascent north of Pistoia. Fausto rode one of the legendary rides in cycling history, when he made his way over the mountains through icy rain, lightning storms, fog, and snow.
A very fit Coppi flew up the Abetone and battled steadily back into contention. He launched a solo breakaway and gain the stage win and a 3’45” time gain. The race leader’s Maglia Rosa moved to his shoulders. With the help of Gino Bartali Coppi held the race leader for the remainder of the race.
Stage 20: 180 km from Verona to Milan, Legnano controlled everything, and young Fausto Coppi earned his first Giro d’Italia championship!!!
SPECIAL NOTE: Coppi, who was 20 years old at the time, became the youngest winner of the Giro. (20 years, 8 months, 18 days).
SPECIAL NOTE: In the spring of 1940 Coppi received a notice to serve in the Italian army. He was granted a 30-day deferment so that he could race the Giro. Two days after his Giro victory he reported to his unit. On June 10, 1940 Mussolini sent his army into southern France.
Post Race Note:
SPECIAL NOTE: The yearly Giro did not return in 1941. To replace the Giro, the organizers along with the government did create a new "Point Series Giro” that was composed of the major one-day races. The riders would earn points based on their place in each race. Some of the notable races that comprised this new "Giro" were Milan-San Remo and Giro di Lombardia. Gino Bartali won the first "Point Series Giro” in 1942. In 1943 the government's "Giro" came to a complete stop after Allie forces landed in Sicily. Mussolini was subsequently deposed in July 1943.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Milan-Torino, 180 km |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Stage 2 Torino-Genova, 226 km |
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
Osvaldo Bailo (Ita) |
Stage 3 Genova-Pisa, 188 km |
Diego Marabelli (Ita) |
Osvaldo Bailo (Ita) |
Stage 4 Pisa-Grosseto, 154 km |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
Stage 5 Grosseto-Rome, 224 km |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
Stage 6 Rome-Napoli, 238 km |
Glauco Servadei (Ita) |
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
Stage 7 Napoli-Fiuggi, 178 km |
Walter Generati (Ita) |
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
Stage 8 Fiuggi-Terni, 183 km |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Enrico Mollo (Ita) |
Stage 9 Terni-Arezzo, 183 km |
Primo Volpi (Ita) |
Enrico Mollo (Ita) |
Stage 10 Arezzo-Firenze, 91 km |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Enrico Mollo (Ita) |
Stage 11 Firenze-Modena, 184 km |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 12 Modena-Ferrara, 199 km |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 13 Ferrara-Treviso, 125 km |
Olimpio Bizzi (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 14 Treviso-Abbazia, 215 km |
Glauco Servadei (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 15 Abbazia-Trieste, 179 km |
Mario Vicini (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stg 16 Trieste-Pieve di Cadore, 202 km |
Mario Vicini (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stg 17 Pieve di Cadore-Ortisei, 110 km |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 18 Ortisei-Trento, 186 km |
Glauco Servadei (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 19 Trento-Verona, 149 km |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Stage 20 Verona-Milan, 180 km |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
 Fausto Coppi (Ita)
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Mountain Prize |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
General Classification:
Final General Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Fausto COPPI (Ita)  |
Legnano |
107h31'10" |
2 |
Enrico Mollo (Ita) |
Olympia |
+2'40" |
3 |
Giordano Cottur (Ita) |
Lygie |
+11'45" |
4 |
Mario Vicini (Ita) |
Bianchi |
+16'27" |
5 |
Severino Canavesi (Ita) |
Gloria |
+16'50" |
6 |
Ezio Cecchi (Ita) |
Gloria |
+22'30" |
7 |
Walter Generati (Ita) |
Gloria |
+25'03" |
8 |
Giovanni De Stefanis (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+27'50" |
9 |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Legnano |
+46'09" |
10 |
Settimo Simonini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Universal (Grp) |
+48'37" |
11 |
Walter Diggelmann (Sui) |
Olympia |
+49'26" |
12 |
Michele Benente (Ita) |
Gerbi |
+49'43" |
13 |
Bernardo Rogora (Ita) |
Gloria |
+53'14" |
14 |
Adriano Vignoli (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+58'46" |
15 |
Diego Marabelli (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Grps) |
+1h05'18" |
16 |
Salvatore Crippa (Ita) |
Gerbi |
+1h22'03" |
17 |
Giovanni Valetti (Ita) |
Bianchi |
+1h34'13" |
18 |
Cesare Del Cancia (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+1h34'14" |
19 |
Mario De Benedetti (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+1h42'48" |
20 |
Francesco Patti (Ita) |
Il Littoriale (Groups) |
+1h45'53" |
21 |
Primo Volpi (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+1h48'41" |
22 |
Glauco Servadei (Ita) |
Gloria |
+1h52'05" |
23 |
Fulvio Montini (Ita) |
SS Parioli (Groups) |
+1h52'09" |
24 |
Aimone Landi (Ita) |
Lygie |
+2h00'08" |
25 |
Eduardo Stretti (Ita) |
Dop. Azzini Vismara (Grps) |
+2h01'50" |
26 |
Secondo Magni (Ita) |
Dop. Azzini Vismara (Grps) |
+2h11'26" |
27 |
Augusto Introzzi (Ita) |
Gloria |
+2h18'02" |
28 |
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) |
Legnano |
+2h18'20" |
29 |
Guerino Amadori (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Grps) |
+2h19'33" |
30 |
Alessandro Vegetti (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+2h25'11" |
31 |
Sebastiano Torchio (Ita) |
Gerbi |
+2h26'21" |
32 |
Giovanni Brotto (Ita) |
Dop. Mater (Groups) |
+2h31'36" |
33 |
Giuseppe Magni (Ita) |
Dop. Azzini Vismara (Grps) |
+2h38'43" |
34 |
Ennio Pozzato (Ita) |
UC Modenese (Groups) |
+2h39'08" |
35 |
Gildo Monari (Ita) |
UC Modenese (Groups) |
+2h41'54" |
36 |
Edgardo Scappini (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+2h46'14" |
37 |
Enrico Mara (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Grps) |
+2h52'35" |
38 |
Marcello Spadolini (Ita) |
Dop. Mater (Groups) |
+2h53'56" |
39 |
Lorenzo Mazzarello (Ita) |
Gerbi |
+3h07'06" |
40 |
Aldo Ronconi (Ita) |
Legnano |
+3h12'16" |
41 |
Francesco Doccini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+3h20'20" |
42 |
Arturo Colombo (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+3h24'32" |
43 |
Pietro Rimoldi (Ita) |
Olympia |
+3h45'35" |
44 |
Pietro Chiappini (Ita) |
Lygie |
+3h56'32" |
45 |
Egidio Facchin (Ita) |
Il Littoriale (Groups) |
+4h06'02" |
46 |
Gino Scappini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+4h08'05" |
47 |
Francesco Albani (Ita) |
Lygie |
+4h16'06" |
Final Mountains Classification |
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Gino Bartali (Ita) |
Legnano |
25 |
2 |
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Legnano |
21 |
3 |
Enrico Mollo (Ita) |
Olympia |
13 |
4 |
Ezio Cecchi (Ita) |
Gloria |
13 |
5 |
Mario Vicini (Ita) |
Bianchi |
12 |
6t |
Giordano Cottur (Ita) |
Lygie |
7 |
6t |
Primo Volpi (Ita) |
US Azzini-Universal (Groups) |
7 |
8 |
Giovanni de Stefanis (Ita) |
Dopolavoro Bamberg (Groups) |
5 |
9t |
Diego Marabelli (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Groups) |
2 |
9t |
Walter Diggelmann (Ita) |
Olympia |
2 |
Final Group Rider Classification |
Rank |
Name |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Giovanni De Stefanis (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
107h59'00" |
2 |
Settimo Simonini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+19' 47" |
3 |
Adriano Vignoli (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+29'52" |
4 |
Diego Marabelli (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Groups) |
+37'28" |
5 |
Cesare Del Cancia (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+1h06'24" |
6 |
Mario De Benedetti (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+1h14'58" |
7 |
Francesco Patti (Ita) |
Il Littoriale (Groups) |
+1h18'03" |
8 |
Primo Volpi (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+1h20'53" |
9 |
Fulvio Montini (Ita) |
SS Parioli (Groups) |
+1h24'19" |
10 |
Eduardo Stretti (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+1h34'00" |
11 |
Secondo Magni (Ita) |
Dop. Azzini Vismara (Groups) |
+1h41'36" |
12 |
Guerino Amadori (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Groups) |
+1h50'43" |
13 |
Alessandro Vegetti (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+1h56'01" |
14 |
Giovanni Brotto (Ita) |
Dopolavoro Mater (Groups) |
+2h01'46" |
15 |
Giuseppe Magni (Ita) |
Dop. Azzini Vismara (Grp) |
+2h08'53" |
16 |
Ennio Pozzato (Ita) |
UC Modenese (Groups) |
+2h09'18" |
17 |
Gildo Monari (Ita) |
UC Modenese (Groups) |
+2h13'44" |
18 |
Edgardo Scappini (Ita) |
Cicli Viscontea (Groups) |
+2h18'24" |
19 |
Enrico Mara (Ita) |
GS Battisti-Aquilano (Groups) |
+2h24'45" |
20 |
Marcello Spadolini (Ita) |
Dopolavoro Mater (Groups) |
+2h25'06" |
21 |
Francesco Doccini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+2h52'30" |
22 |
Carlo Colombara (Ita) |
Dop. Bamberg (Groups) |
+2h56'42" |
23 |
Egidio Facchin (Ita) |
Il Littoriale (Groups) |
+3h38'12" |
24 |
Gino Scappini (Ita) |
US Azzini-Univ. (Groups) |
+3h40'55" |
GdI 1946
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