Girardengo's 4th Milan-San Remo Victory
The 18th edition of the Milan-San Remo Classicissima was held on March 29, 1925. Per race favorites included Costante Girardengo (3-time M-SR winner), Giovanni Brunero (winner of the 1924 Giro di Lombardia), and Ottavio Bottecchia (winner in the TdF 1924).
The race started in Milan at 6:10 am on a cool but pleasant Italian spring day.
Race Status:
After passing Rossiglione (121 km into the race / 287 km), Bottecchia (Automoto) started to attack. Girardengo (Wolsit), Brunero (Legnano) and a young 21-year-old Alfredo Binda (Legnano) followed the move.
Pietro Linari, winner of M-SR 1924, fell heavily on the bumpy gravel road while climbing the Passo Turchino. He broke his rear wheel. He lost 4 minutes with repairs.
Two kilometers from the summit of the Passo Turchino (132 km / 287 km), Girardengo’s brutal pace detached Binda, Gaetano Belloni, Linari and Bottecchia, only Brunero could hold ‘Gira’s’ wheel. Girardengo held off Brunero to win the Grand Prix of the Mountain (KoM cash prize).
On the descent Linari, Ezio Cortesia (Isolati) and Pietro Bestetti (Wolsit) recovered and rejoined the two leaders.
In Voltri (162 km / 287 km), a five-rider group had a gap of 1'28" over Bottecchia and Binda.
In Arenzano (170 km / 287 km), Linari lost time for a regulatory check of his changing of a damaged rear wheel. Girardengo took advantage of the situation and rode away with Brunero.
In Varazze (191 km / 287 km) the two had two minutes lead Linari’s group, which grew to four minutes in Savona (203 km / 287 km).
Girardengo looked carefully down the track after ducking under a closed railroad crossing, Giovanni Brunero followed 'Gira'.
In Oneglia (254 km / 287 km), the "Campionissimo" attacked. Brunero, fearful of a ‘hunger knock,’ took the opportunity to stop and eat.
On the final climb of the Tre-Capi, the Capo Berta (262 km / 287 km), Brunero caught ‘Gira’ in the lead. The time gap to the chase group reached 10 minutes.
In San Remo, the sprint was easily won by ‘Gira’ over a tiring Brunero. Constante Girardengo celebrated his fourth M-SR victory.
A solo Pietro Linari (Legnano) finished third, 15’00” behind.
M-SR March 29, 1925 / 287 Km |
1.
Costante GIRARDENGO (Ita) 10h19'00" |
2.
Giovanni Brunero (Ita)
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3.
Pietro Linari (Ita) +15'00"
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Starters: 66 / Finishers: 31  Average Speed : 27.722 km/h |
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M-SR 1924
M-SR 1926
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