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By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
GdI May 21 to June 09, 1976 |
4,161 Km |
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Finishers: 86 |
Average Speed: 34.683 km/h |
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Gimondi’s Finest Victory
The two-time Giro d’Italia Champion Felice Gimondi scored his finest Giro victory in 1976. At the age of 34 the wily veteran used all his talents to win a close race.
In one of the more closely contested races in Giro history Gimondi beat Belgian Johan De Muynck by 19 seconds and defending Giro champion Fausto Bertoglio in third placed by 49 seconds.
* TRAGIC NOTE: Tragedy hit the Giro during the first stage during a 64 km circuit race in Catania, Sicily. On a sharp right-hand bend, KAS-Campagnolo rider Juan Manuel Santisteban lost control of his bike and crashed heavily into an iron guard rail. All efforts to save him failed and he passed away from his injuries.
Teams:
The twelve teams entering the race were:
- Jolly Ceramica-Decor
- Bianchi-Campagnolo
- Brooklyn
- Furzi-FT
- GBC-TV Color-Sony
- Sanson
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- Kas-Campagnolo
- Magniflex-Torpado
- SCIC-Fiat
- Teka
- Molteni
- Zonca-Santini
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Classification Leadership:
A new classification, the Young Rider Classification, was added to the schedule in 1976. The competition involved neo-professional cyclists in their first three years of professional racing and was determined in the same way as the General Classification. The leader of the classification wore a Maglia Bianca  (White Jersey).
Race Summary:
Stage 1 to 6- Belgians Patrick Sercu, Roger de Vlaeminck, and Johan De Muynck controlled the early race stages. Each Belgian shared the Maglia Rosa through all six stages.
Stage 7- The Individual Time Trial on the seventh stage was won by young Italian Francesco Moser. He beat Felice Gimondi by seven seconds and earned the Maglia Rosa.
Stage 8- Continuing to sprint well, de Vlaeminck won the stage beating Eddy Merckx. Merckx’s 2nd place finish, which would be Eddy’s highest stage placing in his final Giro. Gimondi crossed the line in 3rd place. Moser in the Maglia Rosa finished a minute behind and lost the race lead to Gimondi.
Stage 19- Gimondi controlled a close race through stage 18. Johan De Muynck made a furious run on the final climb to Vigio di Fassia on stage 19 and beat Gimondi by 39 seconds to take a slim GC lead.
Stage 19 (Cima Coppi): Spanish climber Andres Gandarias was the first to cross the summit of the Passo Sella on the nineteenth stage. There were six categorized climbs on a short stage (132 km): Staulanza, Santa Lucia, Falzarego, Gardena, Sella, and Torri del Vajolet. Gandarias attacked and escaped on the ascent of the Sella. He was not a threat to the GC leaders, and he gained the Cima Coppi as well as the stage win with his solo attack.
Stage 22a- The decisive stage came on stage 22a the 28 km Individual Time Trial on the Brianza Circuit in Arcore. An exceptionally good rider against the clock, Gimondi finish the ITT in 6th with a time of 36’04”. He gained 1’02” on race leader De Muynck.
Stage 22b- Holding a slim nineteen second lead, Felice Gimondi rode the second half of the stage, the 106 km Giro di Milano course glued to De Muynck wheel. He gained his third Giro d’Italia victory.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Stage 1a Giro di Catania, 64 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 1b Catania-Siracusa, 78 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 2 Siracusa-Caltanissetta, 210 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 3 Caltanissetta-Palermo, 163 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Stage 4 Cefalu-Messina, 192 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Stage 5 Reggio Calabre-Cosenza, 220 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Stage 6 Cosenza-Matera, 207 km |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 7 Ostuni, 37 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Stg 8 Selva di Fassino-Lago di Laceno, 256 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 9 Bagnoli Irpino-Roccaraso, 204 km |
Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 10 Roccaraso-Terni, 203 km |
Patrick Sercu (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 11 Terni-Gabbice Mare, 222 km |
Antonio Menendez (Spa) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stg 12 Gabicce Mare-Poretta Terme, 215 km |
Sigfrido Fontanelli (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 13 Poretta Terme-Il Ciocco, 146 km |
Ronald De Witte (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 14 Il Ciocco-Varazze, 227 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 15 Varazze-Ozegna, 216 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 16 Castellamonte-Arosio, 258 km |
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 17 Arosio-Verona, 196 km |
Ercole Gualazzini (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 18 Verona-Longarone, 174 km |
Simone Fraccaro (Ita) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 19 Longarone-Vigio di Fassia, 132 km |
Andres Gandarias (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stg 20 Vigio di Fassia-Terme Comano, 170 km |
Luciano Conati (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 21 Terme di Comano-Bergamo, 238 km |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 22a Arcore-Circuito Brianza, 28 km ITT |
Joseph Bruyere (Bel) |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Stage 22b Giro di Milan, 106 km |
Daniele Tinchella (Ita) |
 Felice Gimondi (Ita)
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Mountain Classification |
 Francisco Galdos (Spa)
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Points Classification |
 Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) |
General Classification:
Final General Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Felice GIMONDI (Ita)  |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
119h58'15" |
2 |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Brooklyn |
+19" |
3 |
Fausto Bertoglio (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+49" |
4 |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1'07" |
5 |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+1'35" |
6 |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+2'35" |
7 |
Alfio Vandi (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+4'07" |
8 |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+7'40" |
9 |
Walter Riccomi (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+8'49" |
10 |
Juan Pujol (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+8'50" |
11 |
Giancarlo Bellini (Ita) |
Brooklyn |
+13'52" |
12 |
Roberto Poggiali (Ita) |
Sanson |
+15'19" |
13 |
Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+17'28" |
14 |
Julian Andiano (Spa) |
Teka |
+18'01" |
15 |
Antoon Houbrechts (Bel) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+20'18" |
16 |
Italo Zilioli (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+21'33" |
17 |
Fernando Mendes (Por) |
Teka |
+23'29" |
18 |
Francisco Galdos (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+26'16" |
19 |
Arnaldo Caverzasi (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+29'50" |
20 |
Giuseppe Perletto (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+32'56" |
21 |
Andres Oliva (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+34'15" |
22 |
Claudio Bortolotto (Ita) |
Sanson |
+36'09" |
23 |
Giancinto Santambrogio (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+36'09" |
24 |
Ruggero Gialdini (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+36'39" |
25 |
Enrico Guadrini (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+37'06" |
26 |
Joseph Bruyere (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+44'42" |
27 |
Edward Janssens (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+48'08" |
28 |
Miguel-Maria Lasa (Spa) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+48'54" |
29 |
Jos De Schoenmaecker (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+48'56" |
30 |
Renato Marchetti (Ita) |
Sanson |
+52'10" |
31 |
Armando Lora (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+52'13" |
32 |
Carlos Ocana (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+53'41" |
33 |
Simone Fraccaro (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+53'45" |
34 |
Giovanni Cavalcanti (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+55'01" |
35 |
Donato Giuliani (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+55'50" |
36 |
Joseph Borguet (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+56'29" |
37 |
Jorgen Marcussen (Den) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+56'33 |
38 |
Ventura Diaz (Spa) |
Teka |
+58'27" |
39 |
Leone Pizzini (Ita) |
GBC-TV Color-Sony |
+59'26" |
40 |
Pasquale Pugliese (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h00'02" |
41 |
Glauco Santoni (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+1h02'18" |
42 |
Antonio Prieto (Ita) |
Teka |
+1h06'48" |
43 |
Wilmo Francioni (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+1h09'11" |
44 |
Gary Clively (Aus) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+1h09'34" |
45 |
Sigfrido Fontanelli (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1h13'42" |
46 |
Attilio Rota (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+1h17'42" |
47 |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+1h17'51" |
48 |
Antonio Martos (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+1h19'32" |
49 |
Manuel Esparza (Spa) |
Teka |
+1h21'52" |
50 |
Ueli Sutter (Sui) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h23'19" |
51 |
Adriano Pella (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h27'28" |
52 |
Andres Gandarias (Spa) |
Teka |
+1h34'31" |
53 |
Ludo Delcroix (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+1h36'55" |
54 |
Luciano Rossignoli (Ita) |
Sanson |
+1h50'19" |
55 |
Alessio Antonini (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+1h50'31" |
56 |
Alfredo Chinetti (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+1h52'15" |
57 |
Knut Knudsen (Nor) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+1h54'42" |
58 |
Wilhelm 'Willy' Singer (Ger) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+1h55'17" |
59 |
Sebastian Pozo (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+1h58'33" |
60 |
Giancarlo Tartoni (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+2h01'15" |
61 |
Giuseppe Rondella (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+2h05'45" |
62 |
Roberto Sorlini (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h05'50" |
63 |
Luigi Venturato (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+2h07'35" |
64 |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+2h11'56" |
65 |
Marcello Osler (Ita) |
Brooklyn |
+2h12'47" |
66 |
Willy De Geest (Bel) |
Brooklyn |
+2h14'09" |
67 |
Jose Grande (Spa) |
SCIC-Fiat |
+2h14'38" |
68 |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+2h15'29" |
69 |
Phil Edwards (GBr) |
Sanson |
+2h21'40" |
70 |
Rocco Gatta (Ita) |
GBC-TV Color-Sony |
+2h25'05" |
71 |
Frans Van Looy (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+2h29'57" |
72 |
Mauro Simonetti (Ita) |
Sanson |
+2h30'03" |
73 |
Aldo Parecchini (Ita) |
Brooklyn |
+2h34'18" |
74 |
Alex Van Linden (Bel) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+2h36'24" |
75 |
Sandro Quintarelli (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica-Decor |
+2h44'13" |
76 |
Karel Rottiers (Bel) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+2h45'54" |
77 |
Piero Spinelli (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+2h48'56" |
78 |
Tullio Rossi (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+2h50'57" |
79 |
Giancarlo Polidori (Ita) |
GBC-TV Color-Sony |
+2h52'07" |
80 |
Alberto Caiumi (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+2h57'37" |
81 |
Daniele Tinchella (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+3h00'21" |
82 |
Cees Bal (Ned) |
Molteni-Campagnolo |
+3h01'36" |
83 |
Luigi Castelletti (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
+3h03'15" |
84 |
Marino Basso (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+3h06'49" |
85 |
Pietro Algeri (Ita) |
GBC-TV Color-Sony |
+3h11'35" |
86 |
Antonio Colpo (Ita) |
Furzi-Vibor |
+3h25'26" |
Final Mountains Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Andres OLIVA (Spa) |
Zonca-Santini |
535 |
2 |
Andres Gandarias (Spa) |
Teka |
390 |
3 |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Sanson |
270 |
4 |
Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
210 |
5 |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
195 |
Final Points Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Francesco MOSER (Ita)  |
Sanson |
272 |
2 |
Eddy Merckx (Bel) |
Molteni |
149 |
3 |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Bianchi-Campagnolo |
143 |
4 |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
Jolly Ceramica |
122 |
5 |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
SCIC-Fiat |
110 |
Final Neo-Pro Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Alfio VANDI (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
120h 02' 22" |
2 |
Juan Pujol Pages (Spa) |
Kas-Campagnolo |
+ 4' 43" |
3 |
Ruggero Gialdini (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+ 32' 32" |
GdI 1977
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