Soldani Ended Coppi’s Lombardia Winning Streak
The 44th edition of the Giro di Lombardia was held on October 22, 1950.
The starter’s flag dropped exactly at 10 a.m. and the race rolled rapidly through crowded streets of Milan.
Renzo Zanazzi (Arbos) was the first to attack, the move was answered quickly by Dino Rossi (Cimatti), Oreste Conte (Bianchi) and Valeriano Zanazzi (Lygie).
Race Status:
In Saronno (17 km / 222 km), Donato Piazza (Bianchi), Luciano Cremonese (Bottecchia), and Giovanni Pinarello (Stucchi) caught Rossi.
In Varese (50 km / 222 km), a group of 11-riders pursued the leaders with former champion Aldo Bini significantly contributing to the chase.
On the attack of the Brinzio climb (56 km / 222 km), the 18-rider breakaway had an advantage over the peloton of 40".
Approaching the Madonna del Ghisallo climb (130 km / 222 km), the race began to change. Fausto Coppi (Bianchi) stretched the lead group with only Louison Bobet (Stella), Giuseppe Minardi (Legnano) and Renzo Soldani (Legnano) able to hold the wheels.
Over the summit of the Ghisallo (138 km / 222 km), Coppi passed first with the surprising Soldani in his wake. Minardi trailed by 40", and elites of the peloton, including Gino Bartali (Bartali), chased more than a minute behind.
At 40 km from the finish Coppi's advantage over the group remained at 2'20".
Complicating Coppi and Soldani’s efforts were three closed level railroad-crossings. The delays diminished their leading gap.
Coppi and Soldani ducking under one of three “level-crossings.”
Behind, Antonio Bevilacqua (Atala) and Donato Zampini (Ganna) closed the gap on the road near Giussano (191 km / 222 km).
Five kms from the finish Coppi and Soldani entered the outskirts of Milan, when Zampini and Bevilacqua finished a hard chase and managed to join the two in the lead. A four-way fight for victory came down to the final sprint.
Zampini entered the Vigorelli Velodrome first followed by Bevilacqua, Coppi and Soldani. At the sound of the bell on the last lap Coppi stretched the group in a straight line. He was flanked Bevilacqua, with Zampini fading from the sprint. Bevilacqua responded to Coppi by jumping up the track on the final turn.
Tactically Coppi and Bevilacqua battled each other for position. Attentively Soldani matched the move and launched his powerful sprint. He immediately gained a few meters on the two and crossed the finish line first. The grand Lombardia victory was his!!!
SPECIAL NOTE: Renzo Soldani was the son of the miller from the small Tuscan town of Cireglio, (no more than a thousand inhabitants). Before starting his racing career Renzo spent time in a German internment camp in France during WW2. Soldani’s Giro di Lombardia victory in 1950 was the best of his life.
GdL October 22, 1950 |
222 Km, Milan-Milan (Vigorelli Velodrome) |
1.
Renzo SOLDANI (Ita) 5h49'40" |
2.
Antonio "Tino" Bevilacqua (Ita) |
3.
Fausto Coppi (Ita) |
Starters: 155 / Finishers: 89 Average Speed: 38.094 km/h |
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Lomb 1949 Lomb 1951
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