Bobet Wins an Italian Monument
The 42nd Milan-San Remo Classicissimawas held on March 19, 1951.
SPECIAL NOTE: The French Stella team refused to enter M-SR, so Louison Bobet and Pierre Barbotin were enlisted to race for the Bottecchia-Ursus team.
SPECIAL NOTE: Campionissimo Fausto Coppi was forced to listen to the race on the radio after a bed crash during the sprint at Milan-Turin.
Race Status:
On the Turchino Pass (131 km / 282 km), Barbotin broke away with Claudio Ricci (Isolati), and Dominique Forlini (Isolati) followed closely by Marcello Ciolli (Frejus), Lido Sartini (Stucchi), and Nello Sforacchi (Fiorelli).
On the Ligurian coast near Savona (189 km / 282 km), Bobet came back the leaders with Edouard Muller (Bottecchia) and Alain Moineau (Ganna).
A breakaway of seventeen riders rode onto the Capo Mele (251 km / 282 km). Over the top of the climb the two Frenchmen dropped everyone except Raymond Impanis (Alcyon), Sergio Maggini (Atala), Loretto Petrucci (Bianchi), and Mario Fazio (Bottecchia).
On the final climb of the “tri-Capi”, Capo Berta (265 km / 282 km), Bobet winked at Barbotin, who attacked. Over the top Bobet and Barbotin escaped and gained a gap of 35” on Petrucci, with Impanis at 46", Angelo Menon (Stucchi) at 55".
Through the closing kms Louison Bobet broke away from dwindling peloton with teammate Pierre Barbotin (Fra). The sprint in San Remo became a formality with both riders respecting ‘team hierarchies’ and superstar Louison Bobet sprinted to the victory.
Petrucci finished second at 3'19", Menon at 3'30", and Impanis at 3'35".
Louison Bobet sprinting past teammate Pierre Barbotin for the M-SR victory.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Breton thus put an end to thirty-nine years of French drought, Henri Pélissier had been waiting for his successor since 1912.
M-SR March 19, 1951 / 282 Km |
1.
Louison BOBET (Fra) 7h30'23" |
2.
Pierre Barbotin (Fra) |
3.
Loretto Petrucci (Ita) +3'19" |
Starters: 183 / Finishers: 137  Average Speed : 37.568 km/h |
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M-SR 1950
M-SR 1952
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