| |
By Barry Boyce, CyclingRevealed Historian
GdI May 07 to May 28, 1978 |
3,610.5 Km |
|
Finishers: 90 |
Average Speed: 35.563 km/h |
|
|
Grand Italian’s Final Giro
The 1978 marked the final Giro d’Italia for a grand Italian champion. The 36 year old Felice Gimondi, a three-time Giro champion handed the "torch of Italian cycling" to a new generation of talented riders. Gimondi finished 11th 3’35” behind 1976 runner-up Johan De Muynck. His efforts were in solid support to teammate Francesco Moser.
After the Giro in 1977, where a “less than optimal” performance by Italian all-rounder Francesco Moser disturbed the tifosi, the race route in 1978 was specifically designed to suit his strengths. The media described the 1978 race route as made for an “all-rounder.” The course perfectly suited Moser’s talents.
Teams:
The thirteen teams entering the race were:
- Bianchi-Faema
- Gis Gelati
- Ijsboerke-Gios
- Fiorella-Citroen
- Intercontinentale Assicurazioni
- Sanson-Campagnolo
- Mecap-Selle Italia
|
- Magniflex-Torpado
- SCIC-Bottecchia
- Teka
- Selle Royal-Inoxpran
- Vibor
- Zonca-Santin
|
New Classification Award:
The Giro organizers created a new special award, the Fiat Ritmo Classification. It was to honor Juan Manuel Santisteban (Spa), who passed away after a crash in the 1976 Giro. There were designated intermediate-sprint lines during the longer Giro stages. The winner of the intermediate sprint (“race within a race”) during each stage received a Fiat Ritmo!
Race Summary:
Stage 3- Giuseppe Saronni, Francesco Moser, and Belgian Rik Van Linden battle through the flat stages before solid Belgian “all-rounder” De Muynck made the decisive move of the race on stage 3. Johan de Muynck soloed into Cascina for the stage win and a fifty-two second time gain on all the GC contenders.
Stage 15 (Cima Coppi): After a rest day the fifteenth stage included four tough mountain passes: Consiglio, Rolle, Valles (Cima Coppi), and San Pellegrino. The weather also presented a snowy day in the Dolomites. Gianbattista Baronchelli attacked on the climb of the Valles with Francesco Moser AND Johan de Muynck. Baronchelli sprinted over the summit first and won the Cima Coppi and gained the stage win. He moved into second place in the General Classification.
Stage 4 to 20- De Muynck was able to defend his narrow lead for the rest of the Giro. He controlled every GC contender’s attack and rode into Milan for a fifty-nine second victory over Italian Gianbattista Baronchelli.
Stage and Distance |
Stage Winner |
Race Leader |
Prologue Saint Vincent, 2 km ITT |
Dietrich Thurau (Ger) |
* Prol. time did not count on the GC |
Stage 1 St Vincent-Novi Ligure, 175 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Stage 2 Novi Ligure-La Spezia, 195 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Stage 3 La Spezia-Cascina, 183 km |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 4 Larciano-Pistoia, 25 km ITT |
Dietrich Thurau (Ger) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 5 Prato-Cattolica, 200 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 6 Cattolica-Silvi Marina, 218 km |
Rik Van Linden (Bel) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 7 Silvi Marina-Benevento, 237 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 8 Bevenento-Ravello, 175 km |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 9 Amalfi-Latina, 248 km |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 10 Latina-Lago di Piediluco, 220 km |
Giuseppe Martinelli (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 11a Terni-Assisi, 74 km |
Bruno Zanoni (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 11b Assisi-Siena, 145 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stg 12 Poggibonsi-Monte Trebbio, 204 km |
Giancarlo Bellini (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 13 Modigliano-Padova, 183 km |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 14 Venezia-San Marco, 12 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 15 Treviso-Canazei, 220 km |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 16 Solaria-Cavalese, 45.5 km ITT |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stg 17 Cavalese-Monte Bondone, 205 km |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stg 18 Mezzo Lombardo-Sarezzo, 245 km |
Giuseppe Perletto (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 19 Brescia-Inverigo, 175 km |
Vittorio Algeri (Ita) |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Stage 20 Inverigo-Milan, 226 km |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
 Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
|
Mountain Classification |
 Ueli Sutter (Sui)
|
|
Points Classification |
 Francesco Moser (Ita) |
General Classification:
Final General Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Johan DE MUYNCK (Bel)  |
Bianchi-Faema |
101h31'22" |
2 |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+59" |
3 |
Francesco Moser (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+2'19" |
4 |
Wladimiro Panizza (Ita) |
Vibor |
+7'57" |
5 |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+8'19" |
6 |
Ronald De Witte (Bel) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+8'24" |
7 |
Alfio Vandi (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+8'24" |
8 |
Claudio Bortolotto (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+9'25" |
9 |
Bernt Johansson (Swe) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+12'36" |
10 |
Ueli Sutter (Sui) |
Zonca-Santini |
+12'38" |
11 |
Felice Gimondi (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+13'35" |
12 |
Giancarlo Bellini (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+13'55" |
13 |
Alfredo Chinetti (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+15'45" |
14 |
Fausto Bertoglio (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+17'43" |
15 |
Roberto Visentini (Ita) |
Vibor |
+18'55" |
16 |
Pedro Torres (Spa) |
Teka |
+21'34" |
17 |
Ottavio Crepaldi (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+27'05" |
18 |
Luciano Loro (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+27'28" |
19 |
Valerio Lualdi (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+37'41" |
20 |
Giuseppe Perletto (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+38'33" |
21 |
Walter Riccomi (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+39'33" |
22 |
Dorino Vanzo (Ita) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+53'36" |
23 |
Simone Fraccaro (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+59'44" |
24 |
Giancarlo Casiraghi (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+1h00'28" |
25 |
Bruno Wolfer (Sui) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h01'39" |
26 |
Fabrizio Fabbri (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+1h03'24" |
27 |
Ennio Vanotti (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h13'34" |
28 |
Leonardo Mazzantini (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h15'22" |
29 |
Glauco Santoni (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+1h21'19" |
30 |
Claudio Corti (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h24'15" |
31 |
Giuseppe Martinelli (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+1h24'46" |
32 |
Carmelo Barone (Ita) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+1h25'26" |
33 |
Aldo Donadello (Ita) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+1h27'38" |
34 |
Bruce Biddle (Nzl) |
Gis Gelati |
+1h35'52" |
35 |
Vincenzo De Caro (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+1h38'10" |
36 |
Roberto Poggiali (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h38'20" |
37 |
Armando Lora (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+1h38'30" |
38 |
Marino Amadori (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+1h39'39" |
39 |
Carlo Zoni (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+1h41'43" |
40 |
Alessio Antonini (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+1h44'57" |
41 |
Ruggero Gialdini (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+1h45'08" |
42 |
Alvaro Crespi (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+1h46'03" |
43 |
Renato Laghi (Ita) |
Vibor |
+1h48'11" |
44 |
Roy Schuiten (Ned) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+1h49'45" |
45 |
Stefano D'Arcangelo (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+1h51'04" |
46 |
Luciano Conati (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+1h51'59" |
47 |
Gabriele Landoni (Ita) |
Gis Gelati |
+1h53'08" |
48 |
Walter Dusi (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+1h54'12" |
49 |
Vittorio Algeri (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+1h54'41" |
50 |
Willy De Geest (Bel) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+1h56'26" |
51 |
Jurgen Kraft (Ger) |
Teka |
+1h56'43" |
52 |
Giovanni Cavalcanti (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+1h57'22" |
53 |
Pasquale Pugliese (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+1h58'41" |
54 |
Attilio Rota (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+2h00'11" |
55 |
Palmiro Masciarelli (Ita) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+2h00'15" |
56 |
Giacinto Santambrogio (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+2h00'49" |
57 |
Luciano Borgognoni (Ita) |
Vibor |
+2h01'41" |
58 |
Lucio Di Federico (Ita) |
Gis Gelati |
+2h02'12" |
59 |
Bruno Zanoni (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+2h02'20" |
60 |
Piero Spinelli (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+2h03'47" |
61 |
Remo Rocchia (Ita) |
Vibor |
+2h06'07" |
62 |
Giancarlo Tartoni (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+2h07'03" |
63 |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+2h09'32" |
64 |
Arnaldo Caverzasi (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+2h09'54" |
65 |
Angelo Tosoni (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+2h11'16" |
66 |
Paulino Martinez (Spa) |
Teka |
+2h12'47" |
67 |
Silvano Cervato (Ita) |
Gis Gelati |
+2h13'14" |
68 |
Enrico Paolini (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+2h15'51" |
69 |
Phil Edwards (GBr) |
Sanson-Campagnolo |
+2h16'40" |
70 |
Corrado Donadio (Ita) |
Vibor |
+2h21'53" |
71 |
Gianluigi Zuanel (Ita) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+2h22'10" |
72 |
Luciano Rossignoli (Ita) |
Fiorella-Citroen |
+2h24'01" |
73 |
Sergio Parsani (Ita) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+2h24'41" |
74 |
Davide Boifava (Ita) |
Vibor |
+2h25'40" |
75 |
Osvaldo Bettoni (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+2h26'07" |
76 |
Pedro Vilardebo (Spa) |
Teka |
+2h27'49" |
77 |
Fiorenzo Favero (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+2h29'51" |
78 |
Giuseppe Fatato (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
+2h29'58" |
79 |
Walter Polini (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+2h32'40" |
80 |
Wilhelm 'Willy" Singer (Ger) |
Bianchi-Faema |
+2h34'35" |
81 |
Gaetano Baronchelli (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
+2h35'28" |
82 |
Paolo Rosola (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+2h40'57" |
83 |
Hans-Peter Jakst (Ger) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+2h42'12" |
84 |
Sergio Santimaria (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+2h44'10" |
85 |
Gianfranco Foresti (Ita) |
Vibor |
+2h47'59" |
86 |
Piero Falorni (Ita) |
Gis Gelati |
+2h48'18" |
87 |
Antonio Menendez (Spa) |
Teka |
+2h48'46" |
88 |
Mario Fraccaro (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+3h00'12" |
89 |
Bruno Vicino (Ita) |
Selle Royal-Inoxpran |
+3h14'30" |
90 |
Pietro Algeri (Ita) |
Intercont. Assicurazioni |
+3h30'02" |
Final Mountains Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Ueli SUTTER (Sui) |
Zonca-Santini |
830 |
2 |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
520 |
3t |
Claudio Bortolotto (Ita) |
Sanson |
345 |
Pedro Torres (Spa) |
Teka |
5 |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Bianchi-Faema |
290 |
Final Points Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Francesco MOSER (Ita)  |
Sanson |
275 |
2 |
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
274 |
3 |
Gianbattista Baronchelli (Ita) |
SCIC-Bottecchia |
260 |
4 |
Pierino Gavazzi (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
130 |
5 |
Johan De Muynck (Bel) |
Bianchi-Faema |
118 |
Final Neo-Pro Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Time |
1 |
Roberto VISENTINI (Ita)  |
Vibor |
101h 50' 17" |
2 |
Giancarlo Casiraghi (Ita) |
Intercontinentale Assicurazioni |
+ 41' 33" |
3 |
Ennio Vanotti (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+ 54' 39" |
4 |
Claudio Corti (Ita) |
Zonca-Santini |
+ 1h 05' 20" |
5 |
Vincenzo De Caro (Ita) |
Mecap-Selle Italia |
+ 1h 19' 15" |
Final Fiat Ritmo Classification |
Rank |
Rider |
Team |
Points |
1 |
Luciano ROSSIGNOLI (Ita)  |
Fiorella-Citroen |
37 |
2 |
Walter Dusi (Ita) |
Intercontinentale Assicurazioni |
16 |
3 |
Ottavio Crepaldi (Ita) |
Magniflex-Torpado |
13 |
GdI 1979
Return to the Timeline ToC
Return to the Race Snippets ToC |
|
