Two in a Row for Petrucci
The 44th Milan-San Remo Classicissimawas held on March 19, 1953.
When the guest starter, President of the Unione Velocipedistica Italiana (U.V.I.) Adriano Rodoni, dropped the flag at 8:30 a.m., Belgian Henri Van Kerckhove (Mercier) immediately attacked and escaped the peloton.
Race Status:
His solo breakaway was caught in Binasco (16 km / 282 km).
Swiss champion Hugo Koblet (Cilo) was the next escapee on the Lombardia plains . He had seven companions in his group.
The breakaway's lead reached 2'46” when the peloton began to increase their pace. The Koblet group was caught in Rossiglione (120 km / 282 km), after a breakaway of 100 kms.
Over the summit of the Turchino Pass (131 km / 282 km) Guido De Santi (Benotto) preceded Giuseppe Buratti (Doniselli), the peloton remained close behind.
In Arenzano (162 km / 282 km), the group came back together.
Aggressively the race began to explode as the first of the "tri-Capi" climbs approached. Frenchman Roger Walkowiak (Peugeot) led a 13-rider breakaway.
Over the first climb, the Capo Mele (251 km / 282 km), the pace put riders in difficulty.
Over the second climb, the Capo Cervo (257 Km / 282 km), riders begin losing contact with the leaders.
The breakaway had only five riders over the third "tri-capi", the Capo Berta (265 Km / 282 km). Belgians Germain Derijcke (Alcyon), and Raymond Impanis (Garin) drove a brutal pace with Italians Nino Defilippis (Legnano), Giuseppe Minardi (Legnano), and Loretto Petrucci (Bianchi) holding the group.
A huge effort by Valère Ollivier (Bertin) gained the breakaway as they passed through Arma di Taggia (272 km / 282 km), 10 km from the finish.
In the streets of San Remo six riders tactically prepared for the sprint. First to jump was Derijcke, followed by Ollivier and Defilippis. Minardi came past the lead out at the 150-meter mark. In the wake fast finisher Loretto Petrucci flew away from Giuseppe Minardi and Valère Ollivier to gain second consecutive Milan-San Remo victory.
Bianchi’s Loretto Petrucci.
SPECIAL NOTE: * The race was finished for the first time in less than seven hours at the new record average of 40.350 km/h.
M-SR March 19, 1953 / 282 Km |
1.
Loretto PETRUCCI (Ita) 6h59'20" * |
2.
Giuseppe Minardi (Ita) |
3.
Valère Ollivier (Bel) |
Starters: 215 / Finishers: 114  Average Speed : 40.349 km/h |
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M-SR 1952
M-SR 1954
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