Coppi Untouchable at Lombardia... AGAIN
The 42nd edition of the Giro di Lombardia was held on October 24, 1948.
The race rolled out of Milan at 9:30 a.m. on a beautifully sunny, fall day.
The early kms featured continuous attacks, which generated a 7-rider breakaway. The group included Augusto Introzzi (Bianchi), Nello Sforacchi (Viscontea), Edoardo Taddei (Viscontea), Severino Canavesi * (Viscontea), Primo Volpi (Arbos), Giulio Bresci (Wilier), and Sergio Maggini (Wilier).
SPECIAL NOTE: * Grand Italian champion Severino Canavesi rode his last "Lombardia" in 1948. Between 1931 and 1948 he competed in 16 editions (finishing 3rd in 1941).
Race Status:
In Varese (50 km / 222 km), the breakaway held a 1'55" advantage over first chase group, while the peloton trailed by 2'25".
On the Brinzio climb (56 km / 222 km), Canavesi, Taddei, and Sforacchi started struggling and faded from the group. Volpi, Introzzi, Bresci and Maggini pass at the summit with 2'25" on the peloton.
On the rolling terrain leading to Como (107 km / 222 km), the peloton regrouped.
At the control station at Lake Segrino (124 km / 222 km), Vittorio Rossello (Viani), Giovani Pinarello (Atala), and Vittorio Seghezzi (Lygie) refueled quickly and rode into the lead.
One km later Fausto Coppi (Bianchi) bridged the gap and flew past the trio.
At the start of the Madonna del Ghisallo climb (133 km / 231 km), Coppi accelerated and flew up the ascent. Over the summit the defending champion cross first and set a record time for the Ghisallo climb. Vito Ortelli (Atala) and Louison Bobet (Stella) trailed at the summit by 2'41".
Two-time defending champion Fausto Coppi (Bianchi) rode steadily away from the chasing peloton. Coppi finished an 83 km solo breakaway and crossed the finish line for his third consecutive Lombardia victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: Two months earlier at the World Road Race Championships Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali rode aggressively against each other, making sure the other failed. The fierce rivalry between Coppi and Bartali decimated the chances of the talented Italian team to win the race. Gino Bartali chose not to race in Lombardia.
GdL October 24, 1948 |
222 Km, Milan-Milan (Vigorelli Velodrome) |
1.
Fausto COPPI (Ita) 5h51'55" |
2.
Adolfo Leoni (Ita) +4'45" |
3.
Fritz Schaer (Sui) |
Starters: 127 / Finishers: 74 Average Speed: 37.849 km/h |
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Lomb 1947 Lomb 1949
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