Frenchman Wins 1st Milan-San Remo
On Sunday, April 14, 1907, thirty-three riders came to the start line on Pedesimo Piazzale in Milan. The rules were strict:
NO supplies or other accessories,
NO changing bicycles,
NO technical team support.
The top Italian riders entered but to make this event international in scope, race director Eugenio Costamagna contracted French stars Lucien Petit-Breton (Bianchi) and Gustave Garrigou (Peugeot) to compete.
Heavy rain and high winds caused the start to be delayed, the race’s start got pushed back from 4:30 to 5:28 am in the morning.
Racing through the villages on the plains of Lombardia the peloton rode at a fast pace.
The peloton ridingat at a fast early pace across to plains of Lombardia.
Race Status:
In Pavia (33 km into the race / 288 km), the leading group was reduced to twelve riders.
In Casteggio (68 km / 288 km), the fast pace of the leaders continued to reduce the group to eight.
In Pozzolo Formigaro (108 km / 288 km), cagy Italian Giovanni "Red Devil" Gerbi knew the roads and took full advantage of the uneven pavement. he attacked and opened an advantage of a minute in Novi (115 km / 288 km).
Riding into sleet and on slick roads, the "Red Devil" started the acsent of the Passo Turchino with a three-minute lead over Luigi Ganna (Otav), Carlo Galetti (Otav) and Garrigou.
Chasing solo, Lucien Petit-Breton (Fra) had a puncture, and remained five minutes behind. Both Louis Trousselier (Alcyon), victim of a crash, and Giovanni Cuniolo (Maino), who did not climb well, were further behind.
Gerbi remained alone in the lead but began to suffer.
The weather improved significantly when the race turned onto the Ligurian Coast.
Near Savona (200 km / 288 km), a tiring Gerbi was joined by Garrigou. Trailing the two leaders Frenchman Petit Breton had recovered and closed quickly on the leaders. Bianchi director sportif Gian Ferdinando Tommaselli told Gerbi that his French teammate was close and Gerbi stop cooperating with Garrigou. Petit Breton reconnected on the Capo Berta descent (263 km / 288 km) with 25 km to the finish.
Approaching San Remo, the Bianchi teammates alternated attacks, Garrigou answered every attempt.
Italian Giovanni “Red Devil” Gerbi had a dubious reputation of “do anything to win.” * When Petit-Breton opened the sprint 800 meters from the Viale Cavallotti, Gerbi grabbed Gustave Garrigou’s (Peugeot-Wolber) jersey to disrupt his sprint. Petit-Breton soloed away and won the first ever Milan-San Remo.
Gerbi rolled across in second place. However, his infraction caused a huge protest and a fistfight. The race officials, after many discussions, had (several days later) to relegate Gerbi to third place.
SPECIAL NOTE: Garrigou’s obvious protest was heard by the race jury, who deteremined that the infraction did occur, but they could not take away the victory from Petit-Breton. So, the relegation was the only option.
SPECIAL NOTE: The Classic known as “La Primavera” was born! Through the remainder of the 20th Century Milan-San Remo gave the cycling World exceptional stories of individual effort and gained the prestigious distinction as one of the "5 Monuments of Cycling."
The Classic known as “La Primavera” was born! Through the remainder of the 20th Century Milan-San Remo gave the cycling World great stories of individual effort and earned the distinction as one of the "5 Monuments of Cycling."
M-SR April 14, 1907 / 288 Km |
1.
Lucien PETIT-BRETON (Fra) 11h04'15" |
2.
Gustave Garrigou (Fra) +1'00" |
3.
Giovanni Gerbi (Ita) +15" * (relegated to3rd for interference in the sprint)
|
Starters: 33 / Finishers: 14 Average Speed: 26.014 km/h |
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M-SR 1908
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