43rd Giro d'Italia 1960 (Italy)

Anquetil Nips Nencini

Frenchman Jacques Anquetil had already established himself as the 'man of the era' and returned to the Giro d'Italia with unfinished business. For the main contenders the 1960 Giro had three major hurdles:

•  the Stage 12 climb of the Cervinia,

•  the Stage 14 68km time trial near Milan and

•  the long Dolomite Mountain Stage 20 with the mighty
Passo de Gavia.

Gaul soared away from the base of the stage 12 ascent of the 15 mile Cervinia. Unfortunately Gaul was suffering from a sore throat which clipped the “Angel's” wings. A small group including Anquetil caught the Luxembourger summit of the climb. The GC status quo was maintained and Gaul simply stated that “this hill is not tough enough for me; I will do better in the Dolomites.”

Anquetil leading Gaul (R), race leader Hoevenaers (L) and Nenchini

Anquetil was in magnificent form for the 68 km time trial on Stage 14. He caught and dropped Gaul who had started six minutes ahead of him. Italian Gastone Nencini rode a little better to claim second place on the day but he still lost a massive 4'26" to Anquetil. The Maglia Rosa of race leadership now moved to Anquetil 3'40" ahead of Nencini in second and 7'58" ahead of Gaul, who fell to 6th place in the GC.

SPECIAL NOTE: In those days most mountain passes in the Giro and Tour were on unmade dirt roads. The Passo de Gavia is the third highest pass in Europe and in 1960 was rarely used even for motor traffic due to its dangers. Reports of unprotected 2,000 feet cliffs on the descent, incredibly steep inclines, and a number brown bears inhabiting the upper slopes. These facts caused considerable anxiety in the race convoy. “It is just like a Tour de France pass 50 years ago in the days of Eugene Christophe,” reports said.

The stage was now set for the final act, drama on the Gavia. The Stage 20 climb of the Passo de Gavia provided the race leader a scare. Anquetil wearing the Maglia Rosa was attacked by Nencini, who had been pushed up the very steep sections of the climb by the Italian tifosi. Race officials turned a “blind eye” to the incident and Nencini broke away from the race leader on the decent. He gained 2'34” to close his deficit to 28 seconds with one stage remaining.

SPECIAL NOTE : It should be said that Nencini was a good sportsman. Like all top riders then and now, he did not like getting pushed but there is not a lot one can do when a bunch of crazy fans get behind you. Even so the organizers claimed that had Nencini given Anquetil the slip into Milan and taken back those 28 seconds then he would have been disqualified for being pushed up the Gavia.

An aggressive Nencini finished 3rd on the final stage in Milan but with no time gain. Anquetil became the first French champion of the Giro d'Italia.

SPECIAL NOTE: 1960 marked the first inclusion of the Passo de Gavia on the Giro schedule.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Italian tifosi (passionate Italian fans) were still mourning the premature death of Fausto Coppi earlier that year and wanted to see one of their own hero's honor the memory of the “Campionissimo”.

GdI 1959

GdI 1961

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