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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
GdI May 20 - June 11, 1967 |
3,572 Km |
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Finishers: 70 |
Average Speed: 35.339 km/h |
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Merckx DQ'd, Gimondi Inherits the Victory
Defending champion Eddy Merckx dominated the Giro d'Italia again in 1969. This year’s race would not go well for the young Belgian.
SPECIAL NOTE: In 1969 a Neo-Professional Classification (predecessor of the White Jersey's Young Rider Classification) was contested. No Jersey was Awarded in 1969.
Teams:
The thirteen teams that took part in the race were:
- Eliolona
- Faema
- Germanvox-Wega
- Ferretti
- Max Meyer
- G.B.C.
- Gris 2000
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- Molteni
- Filotex
- Sagit
- Salvarani
- Sanson
- SCIC
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Doping Control:
The race had doping controls for the second year in a row. This year the top two riders in the GC were drug tested after each stage, along with two random cyclists. A mobile lab traveled with the race and was used to administer doping control.
On June 2, the announcement that the race leader Merckx had tested positive became public. Merckx's test came back positive for fencamfamin (an amphetamine). He stated "I'm sure I didn't take any doping product" as he cried on his hotel bed. Riders, including Gimondi came to express their solidarity with Merckx.
Merckx’s positive doping test meant a month’s suspension. But race director Vincenzo Torriani, who believed Merckx may have been set-up, delayed the start of the seventeenth stage to persuade the president of the Italian Cycling Federation to allow Merckx to remain in the race. However, the president was not in his office and Torriani had to start the stage and disqualifying Merckx in the process.
Race Summary:
Stage 16: Merckx found controversy on stage 16. While leading the race after 15 stages, Merckx was found positive at doping control (drug test) and expelled from the Giro. Merckx steadfastly denies the charges. The cycling official in charge of administrating the test also believed in his innocence. However, the test was declared positive, and action had to be taken.
SPECIAL NOTE: The controversy began to swirl when his test results were not handled in an ordinary manner. The positive doping control got released to the press before Merckx and team officials were notified. With the report the damage was done, and it was too late for Merckx to recover. The handling of the affair by Italian officials was shameful. Curiously, the night before the random drug test, an Italian rival offered to pay Merckx to throw the race. Merckx adamantly refused to purposefully lose the race. The very next day, the positive doping control was administered.
Stage 17: Merckx was DQ’d with Gimondi assuming the race lead.
Stage 20: The twentieth stage from Trento to the summit of the Marmolada started at 8:30 am local time and by around 1 pm the weather in Northern Italy was worsening. Race organizers became very concerned and were forced to change the route to go through Fiera di Primiero. However, the weather was even worse at that location and Giro director Vincenzo Torriani elected to neutralize the stage after 104 km of racing.
Stage 21 (Cima Coppi): The Cima Coppi of the 1969 Giro was the Passo Sella. The climb was included in the 21st stage, a short (131 km) but tough course from Rocca Pietore to Cavalese. The 5 major ascents confronting the riders were the Campolongo, Gardena, Sella, Costalunga, and Lavazze. 1969 “King of the Mountains” Claudio Michelotto was the first rider to cross the summit of the final three passes, which included the Cima Coppi. He went on to win the stage, 1’55” ahead of the eventual Giro winner Felice Gimondi.
Stage 23: Gimondi rode steadily through the closing stages, answering every attack and rode into Milan to claim the 1969 Giro victory.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1 Circuito Garda-Brescia, 142 km |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 2 Brescia-Mirandola, 180 km |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Stage 3 Mirandola-Montecatini, 188 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 4 Montecatini-Circuito, 21 km ITT |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 5 Montecatini-Follonica, 194 km |
Al Van Vlierberghe (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 6 Follonica-Viterbo, 198 km |
Franco Cortinovis (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 7 Viterbo-Terracina, 206 km |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 8 Terracina-Napoli, 133 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Stage 9 Napoli-Potenza, 173 km |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 10 Potza-Campitello Matese, 254 km |
Carlo Chiappano (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 11 Campobasso-Scanno, 165 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 12 Scanno-Silvi Marina, 180 km |
Ugo Colombo (Ita) |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Stage 13 Silvi Marina-Senigalia, 166 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Stage 14 Senigallia-San Marino, 185 km |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stg 15 Cesenatico-San Marino, 49km ITT |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) DQ'd |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Stage 16 Parma-Savona, 234 km |
Roberto Ballini (Ita) |
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Stage 17 Celle Ligure-Pavia, 182 km |
Ole Ritter (Den) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18a Pavia-Zingonia, 115 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18b Zingonia-San Pellegrino, 100 km |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 19 San Pellegrino-Folgaria, 248 km |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 20 Trento-Marmolada * Cancelled |
Stage Cancelled - Severe weather |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 21 Rocca Pietore-Cavalese, 131 km |
Claudio Michelotto (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 22 Cavalese-Folgarida, 150 km |
Vittorio Adorni (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 23 Folgarida-Milan, 257 km |
Attilio Benfatto (Ita) |
 Felice Gimondi (Ita)
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Mountain Classification |
Claudio Michelotto (Ita) |
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Points Classification |
 Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
General Classification:
Final General Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Felice GIMONDI (Ita)  |
Salvarani |
106h47'03" |
2 |
Claudio Michelotto (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+3'35" |
3 |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Filotex |
+4'48" |
4 |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Sanson |
+7'01" |
5 |
Ugo Colombo (Ita) |
Filotex |
+11'54" |
6 |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Molteni |
+14'01" |
7 |
Aldo Moser (Ita) |
G.B.C. |
+20'15" |
8 |
Primo Mori (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+20'25" |
9 |
Rudi Altig (Ger) |
Salvarani |
+23'57" |
10 |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Filotex |
+31'36" |
11 |
Adriano Passuello (Ita) |
Filotex |
+34'17" |
12 |
Vittorio Adorni (Ita) |
SCIC |
+39'26" |
13 |
Vito Taccone (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
+41'24" |
14 |
Roberto Poggiali (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+47'01" |
15 |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Molteni |
+47'22" |
16 |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+49'19" |
17 |
Enrico Maggioni (Ita) |
Molteni |
+53'33" |
18 |
Mario Anni (Ita) |
Molteni |
+54'09" |
19 |
Lino Carletto (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+56'06" |
20 |
Bernard Vifian (Sui) |
Eliolona |
+1h00'47" |
21 |
Giovanni Cavalcanti (Ita) |
Gris 2000 |
+1h01'20" |
22 |
Matteo Cravero (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1h07'07" |
23 |
Marcello Bergamo (Ita) |
Filotex |
+1h08'26" |
24 |
Flaviano Vicentini (Ita) |
Filotex |
+1h09'19" |
25 |
Attilio Benfatto (Ita) |
SCIC |
+1h09'27" |
26 |
Oliviero Morotti (Ita) |
Sagit |
+1h21'19" |
27 |
Dino Zandegu (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+1h30'43" |
28 |
Luigi Sgarbozza (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+1h33'12" |
29 |
Guerrino Tosello (Ita) |
Molteni |
+1h43'52" |
30 |
Edy Schutz (Lux) |
Molteni |
+1h45'48" |
31 |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Molteni |
+1h45'58" |
32 |
Carlo Chiappano (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1h46'06" |
33 |
Giuseppe Scopel (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+1h46'11" |
34 |
Imerio Massignan (Ita) |
G.B.C. |
+1h46'49" |
35 |
Luciano Armani (Ita) |
SCIC |
+1h48'14" |
36 |
Julio Jimenez (Spa) |
Eliolona |
+1h50'02" |
37 |
Arturo Pecchielan (Ita) |
Molteni |
+1h52'01" |
38 |
Albert Van Vlierberghe (Bel) |
Ferretti |
+1h55'38" |
39 |
Franco Bodrero (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+1h57'24" |
40 |
Giovanni De Franceschi (Ita) |
Eliolona |
+1h59'13" |
41 |
Attilio Rota (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1h59'49" |
42 |
Giuseppe Fezzardi (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h03'16" |
43 |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
SCIC |
+2h07'07" |
44 |
Julien Van Lint (Bel) |
Ferretti |
+2h11'03" |
45 |
Guido Neri (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+2h17'08" |
46 |
Angelo Corti (Ita) |
Gris 2000 |
+2h20'56" |
47 |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Molteni |
+2h21'14" |
48 |
Willy Spuhler (Sui) |
G.B.C. |
+2h23'03" |
49 |
Pietro Campagnari (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h25'37" |
50 |
Giancarlo Ferretti (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+2h26'40" |
51 |
Giampaolo Cucchietti (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+2h26'46" |
52 |
Ottavio Crepaldi (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h31'42" |
53 |
Emilio Casalini (Ita) |
SCIC |
+2h32'13" |
54 |
Alberto Della Torre (Ita) |
Filotex |
+2h34'58" |
55 |
Luciano Dalla Bona (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+2h35'13" |
56 |
Lucillo Lievore (Ita) |
Eliolona |
+2h35'22" |
57 |
Giuseppe Milioli (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
+2h37'15" |
58 |
Alfio Poli (Ita) |
Filotex |
+2h40'08" |
59 |
Ceslestino Vercelli (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h40'21" |
60 |
Giacinto Santambrogio (Ita) |
Molteni |
+2h42'11" |
61 |
Renato Rota (Ita) |
Ferretti |
+2h42'47" |
62 |
Silvano Davo (Ita) |
Ferretti |
+2h45'29" |
63 |
Renato Baldan (Ita) |
G.B.C. |
+2h45'36" |
64 |
Vittorio Marcelli (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h52'15" |
65 |
Primo Franchini (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
+2h52'35" |
66 |
Pietro Tamiazzo (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+2h56'39" |
67 |
Felice Salina (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+2h58'39" |
68 |
Giorgio Destro (Ita) |
G.B.C. |
+2h59'36" |
69 |
Ercole Gualazzini (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+2h59'42" |
70 |
Giorgio Mantovani (Ita) |
Eliolona |
+3h03'33" |
71 |
Gianfranco Bianchin (Ita) |
Gris 2000 |
+3h09'43" |
72 |
Tommaso De Pra (Ita) |
Salvarani |
+3h11'05" |
73 |
Roberto Ballini (Ita) |
G.B.C. |
+3h11'54" |
74 |
Virginio Levati (Ita) mt |
Sagit |
+3h11'54" |
75 |
Ambrogio Portalupi (Ita) |
Scic |
+3h15'04" |
76 |
Giorgio Favaro (Ita) |
Filotex |
+3h15'05" |
77 |
Giuseppe Grassi (Ita) |
Filotex |
+3h21'24" |
78 |
Romano Tumellero (Ita) |
Ferretti |
+3h42'04" |
79 |
Giancarlo Toschi (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
+3h49'57" |
80 |
Sandro Quintarelli (Ita) |
Gris 2000 |
+3h57'26" |
81 |
Mario Bettazzoli (Ita) |
Eliolona |
+4h10'43" |
Final Mountains Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Claudio MICHELOTTO (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
330 |
| 2 |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Filotex |
250 |
3 |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Salvarani |
230 |
4 |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Molteni |
220 |
5t |
Ugo Colombo (Ita) |
Filotex |
130 |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Sanson |
7 |
Julio Jiménez (Spa) |
Eliolona |
120 |
8 |
Franco Bitossi (Ita) |
Filotex |
100 |
9 |
Vittorio Adorni (Ita) |
SCIC |
80 |
10 |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Salvarani |
60 |
11 |
Carlo Chiappano (Ita) |
Sanson |
50 |
12t |
Vito Taccone (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
30 |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
Molteni |
13t |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Molteni |
20 |
Guido Neri (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
Primo Mori (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
14 |
Rudi Altig (Ger) |
Salvarani |
10 |
Final Points Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Franco BITOSSI (Ita) |
Filotex |
182 |
2 |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Molteni |
166 |
3 |
Michele Dancelli (Ita) |
Molteni |
129 |
4 |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Salvarani |
126 |
5 |
Luigi Sgarbozza (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
118 |
6 |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Filotex |
107 |
7 |
Ugo Colombo (Ita) |
Filotex |
103 |
8 |
Silvano Schiavon (Ita) |
Sanson |
98 |
9 |
Dino Zandegù (Ita) |
Salvarani |
95 |
10 |
Rudi Altig (Ger) |
Salvarani |
90 |
11 |
Vittorio Adorni (Ita) |
SCIC |
86 |
12t |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Salvarani |
80 |
Marcello Bergamo (Ita) |
Filotex |
Claudio Michelotto |
Max Meyer |
Guido Neri (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
Vito Taccone (Ita) |
Germanvox-Wega |
17 |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Molteni |
72 |
18 |
Carlo Chiappano (Ita) |
Sanson |
63 |
*NEW* Final Neo-Professional Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Primo MORI (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
107h 07' 28" |
2 |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Molteni |
+ 26' 57" |
3 |
Enrico Maggioni (Ita) |
Molteni |
+ 33' 08" |
4 |
Giovanni Cavalcanti (Ita) |
Gris 2000 |
+ 40' 55" |
5 |
Matteo Cravero (Ita) |
Sanson |
+ 46' 42" |
6 |
Marcello Bergamo (Ita) |
Filotex |
+ 48' 01" |
7 |
Oliviero Morotti (Ita) |
Sagit |
+ 1h 01' 54" |
8 |
Giuseppe Scopel (Ita) |
Max Meyer |
+ 1h 25' 46" |
9 |
Arturo Pecchielan (Ita) |
Molteni |
+ 1h 31' 36" |
10 |
Attilio Rota (Ita) |
Sanson |
+ 1h 39' 24" |
GdI 1970
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