Olmo's Second M-SR Victory
The 31st Milan-San Remo Classicissima was held on March 19, 1938 (the day of the feast of Saint Joseph).
SPECIAL NOTE: The race was reported as a challenge between Giuseppe "Gepin" Olmo (Bianchi) and Gino Bartali (Legnano), who is the reigning Italian National champion and winner of the last two Giro d’Italia.
The starter’s flag dropped at 8:05 am on an ideal, but cool and breezy day. The early pace through Pavia (33 km into the race / 282 km), was done at a pace of over 43km/h.
The first serious breakaway came as the peloton approached the Turchino Pass. The group included: Carlos Castagnoli (Frejus), Enrico Mollo (Frejus), Mario Vicini (Lygie), Carlo Romanatti (Bianchi), Angelo Varetto (Gloria), Mario Coppa (Isolati), and Frenchman André Deforge (A. Leducq).
Race Status:
On the climb of the Turchino Pass (155 km / 282 km), Vicini crossed the summit first and won the mountain preme. Behind the elite chasers were getting organized.
In Genova-Voltri (155 km / 282 km), Olmo (Bianchi) and Bartali (Legnano) begin to close on the leaders.
The race crossed Cogoleto (166 km), Varazze (172 km), and Celle Ligure (178 km), at such a high speed that breakaway arrived well ahead of schedule. Fans arrived late and missed the leaders passing through the city.
At the Savona control station (185 km / 282 km), Deforge caught Vicini. The duo had 40” lead on the elite chasers. Vicini was beginning to show signs of fatigue.
In Albenga (227 km / 282 km), a regrouping of the breakaway included Deforge, Olmo, Osvaldo Bailo (Bianchi), Pierino Favalli (Legnano), Alfredo Bovet (Dei), Fabien Galateau (Dei), Adriano Vignoli (Bianchi), Ruggero Moro (S.C. Vigor Torino), Enrico Mara (U.S. Azzini), Giordano Cottur (Lygie), Bernardo Rogora (Gloria), Elio Bavutti (Il Littoriale), Auguste Mallet (Helyett), Franco Maggioni (Isolati), and Giulio Rossi (Alcyon). While Bartali trailed by 30".
Frenchman Auguste Mallet (Helyett) launched a new attack on the Capo Berta (257 km / 282 km), only Olmo, Bovet, Favalli and Galateau manage to hold the wheels.
In San Lorenzo (270 km / 282 km), the quintet reformed, and everyone contributed to the pace because the elite group behind included Bartali, Bizzi, Bailo, and Rogora. They were chasing hard.
Solidly the five leaders held off the chasers and entered San Remo to contest the sprint. Under the one-kilometer flag Galateau tried a surprise attack and launched the long sprint. Favalli jumped after his with Olmo close behind.
At the 200 meter mark Olmo surged past Favalli, who got delayed by a motorcycle in the road. “Gepin” had a clear shot to the finish line. Giuseppe "Gepin" Olmo (Bianchi) sprinted to his second M-SR victory.
The finish line at Corso Cavallotti in San Remo.
SPECIAL NOTE: Olmo’s Milan-San Remo victory established a new record with an average of 38.561 km/h. *
M-SR March 19, 1938 / 282 Km |
1.
Giuseppe OLMO (Ita) 7h18'30" |
2.
Pierino Favalli (Ita) |
3.
Alfredo Bovet (Ita) |
Starters: 169 / Finishers: 103  Average Speed : 38.561 km/h * |
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M-SR 1937
M-SR 1939
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