Giro d'Italia

Giro d'Italia 2008 Giro d'Italia
The 90°Giro d'Italia logo Race details Date May-June Region Italy English name Tour of Italy Local name(s) Giro d'Italia (Italian) Discipline Road Type Grand Tour Organiser RCS Sport History First edition 1909 Editions 91 (as of 2008) First winner Luigi Ganna Most wins 5 wins:
Alfredo Binda
Fausto Coppi
Eddy Merckx Most recent Alberto Contador

The Giro d'Italia (Tour of Italy), also simply known as the Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May or early June in and around Italy. After the Tour de France, it is the second most important stage race in the world. The most recent winner (2008) is Alberto Contador. The 2008 edition started on May 10 and finished on June 1.

1 History
2 Jerseys
- 2.1 Most wins
- 2.2 Youth Competition (maglia bianca)
3 List of overall winners
4 Victories per country
5 Giro d'Italia stage victories
6 See also
7 References
8 External links

History

The Giro was inspired by the Tour de France and, just as the French race was intended to boost circulation of L'Auto, so Emilio Camillo Costamagna, the editor of La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper, aimed to increase his circulation. The first Giro d'Italia started on May 13, 1909 at Milan with eight stages totalling 2,448 kilometres (1,521 miles). Luigi Ganna was the first winner.

Along with the Tour de France and the World Cycling Championship, the Giro d'Italia makes up the Triple Crown of Cycling. Along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España it is one of the three Grand Tours.

Jerseys

Whereas the overall leader of the Tour de France is awarded a yellow jersey (originally to correspond with L'Auto 's yellow pages), since 1931 the overall leader in the Giro sports the maglia rosa (pink jersey), which corresponds with La Gazzetta dello Sport 's pink newsprint. The "King of the Mountains" wears the maglia verde (green jersey). The leader of the points classification wears the maglia ciclamino (mauve jersey), the best young rider wear the maglia bianca (white jersey).

The maglia rosa from the 88th edition of the race in 2005.

Italian Felice Gimondi holds the record for the most podium finishes: nine in total, consisting of three victories, two second places and four third place finishes.

Most wins

The following riders have won the most final jerseys:

Overall (maglia rosa)

The maglia rosa, or pink jersey, are held throughout the race by the cyclist who at the start of each stage has the lowest overall time up to that point of the giro. The holder often change from day to day, but due to the glory and big exposure for the team and the individual who holds the jersey, the teams often makes a lot of effort to keep the jersey within the team. The cyclist with the lowest time at the end of the giros last stage wins the Giro. This is similar as the Yellow jersey, Maillot Jaune, used in the Tour de France.

5 wins: Alfredo Binda (1925, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1933), Fausto Coppi (1940, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1953), Eddy Merckx (1968, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974)
3 wins: Giovanni Brunero (1921, 1922, 1926), Gino Bartali (1936, 1937, 1946), Fiorenzo Magni (1948, 1951, 1955), Bernard Hinault (1980, 1982, 1985), Felice Gimondi (1967, 1969, 1976)

King of the mountains (maglia verde)

Points are given to the rider who is first to reach the top of, or determined places during, any classified climb throughout the giro. The number of points given, vary according to the hill classification, determined by the steepness and length of that particular hill. Points are also given to the first following riders, how many varies. The green jersey is worn by the rider who at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of climbing points. The rider whom at the end of the giro, holds the most points, wins the climbing competition.This is the same as the Polka dot jersey of the Tour de France. In 2008 it was won by Emanuele Sella.

7 wins: Gino Bartali
4 wins: José Manuel Fuente
3 wins: Claudio Chiappucci, Claudio Bortolotto, Franco Bitossi, Fausto Coppi

Points Competition (maglia ciclamino)

Points are given to the rider who is first to reach the end of, or determined places during, any stage of the giro. The number of points given, vary accordingly to how hard the stage is, determined by the length and number of hills, size of hills etc. in that particular stage. Points are also given to the first following riders, how many varies. The jersey is worn by the rider who at the start of each stage, has the largest amount of points. The rider whom at the end of the giro, holds the most points, wins the points competition. This competition is most often won by specialized sprinters who seldom has a chance in the overall competition. This is the same as the green jersey, maillot vert, of the Tour de France. The 2008 winner was Daniele Bennati.

4 wins: Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni
3 wins: Mario Cipollini, Roger De Vlaeminck, Johan Van der Velde

Youth Competition (maglia bianca)

The youth competition is a competition within the giro, celebrating young riders. The white jersey is given to the rider under the age of 25 who gets the highest ranking in the general classification. In 2008 it was won by Riccardo Riccò.

List of overall winners

Giro Year Winner Nationality Team 912008 Alberto Contador Velasco Spain Astana 902007 Danilo Di Luca Italy Liquigas 892006 Ivan Basso Italy Team CSC 882005 Paolo Savoldelli(2) Italy Discovery Channel 872004 Damiano Cunego Italy Saeco 862003 Gilberto Simoni(2) Italy Saeco 852002 Paolo Savoldelli ItalyIndex-Alexia 842001 Gilberto Simoni Italy Lampre-Daikin 832000 Stefano Garzelli Italy Mercatone Uno 821999 Ivan Gotti(2) Italy Polti 811998 Marco Pantani Italy Mercatone Uno 801997 Ivan Gotti Italy Saeco 791996 Pavel Tonkov Russia Mapei-GB 781995 Tony Rominger Switzerland Mapei-GB 771994 Eugeni Berzin RussiaGewiss-Ballan 761993 Miguel Indurain(2) Spain Banesto 751992 Miguel Indurain Spain Banesto 741991 Franco Chioccioli Italydel Tongo 731990 Gianni Bugno ItalyChateau d'Ax 721989 Laurent Fignon France Super U-Raleigh-Fiat 711988 Andrew Hampsten United States 7-Eleven 701987 Stephen Roche Ireland Carrera-Vagabond 691986 Roberto Visentini Italy Carrera-Inoxpran 681985 Bernard Hinault(3) France La Vie Claire 671984 Francesco Moser ItalyGis-Tuc Lu 661983 Giuseppe Saronni(2) ItalyDel Tongo 651982 Bernard Hinault(2) France Renault-Elf-Gitane 641981 Giovanni Battaglin ItalyInoxpran 631980 Bernard Hinault France Renault-Elf-Gitane 621979 Giuseppe Saronni ItalyScic 611978 Johan de Muynck Belgium Bianchi-Faema 601977 Michel Pollentier BelgiumFlandria-Velda 591976 Felice Gimondi(3) Italy Bianchi-Campagnolo 581975 Fausto Bertoglio ItalyJollyceramica 571974 Eddy Merckx(5) Belgium Molteni 561973 Eddy Merckx(4) Belgium Molteni 551972 Eddy Merckx(3) Belgium Molteni 541971 Gösta Pettersson SwedenFerretti 531970 Eddy Merckx(2) BelgiumFaema 521969 Felice Gimondi(2) ItalyFaema 511968 Eddy Merckx BelgiumFaema 501967 Felice Gimondi ItalySalvarani 491966 Gianni Motta Italy Molteni 481965 Vittorio Adorni ItalySalvarani 471964 Jacques Anquetil(2) FranceSt.Raphael 461963 Franco Balmamion(2) ItalyCarpano 451962 Franco Balmamion ItalyCarpano 441961 Arnaldo Pambianco ItalyFides 431960 Jacques Anquetil FranceFynsec 421959 Charly Gaul(2) LuxembourgEmi G. S. 411958 Ercole Baldini ItalyLegnano 401957 Gastone Nencini ItalyChlorodont 391956 Charly Gaul LuxembourgFaema-Guerra 381955 Fiorenzo Magni(3) ItalyNivea-Fuchs 371954 Carlo Clerici SwitzerlandFaema-Guerra 361953 Fausto Coppi(5) Italy Bianchi-Pirelli 351952 Fausto Coppi(4) Italy Bianchi-Pirelli 341951 Fiorenzo Magni(2) ItalyGanna 331950 Hugo Koblet SwitzerlandGuerra 321949 Fausto Coppi(3) Italy Bianchi-Ursus 311948 Fiorenzo Magni ItalyWillier Triestina 301947 Fausto Coppi(2) Italy Bianchi29 1946 Gino Bartali(3) ItalyLegnano 1941 to 1945: suspended due to World War II28 1940 Fausto Coppi ItalyLegnano 27 1939 Giovanni Valetti(2) ItalyFrance Sport-Wobler 26 1938 Giovanni Valetti ItalyFresjus 25 1937 Gino Bartali(2) ItalyLegnano 241936 Gino Bartali ItalyLegnano 231935 Vasco Bergamaschi ItalyMaino-Girardengo 221934 Learco Guerra ItalyMaino-Clement 211933 Alfredo Binda(5) ItalyLegnano 201932 Antonio Pesenti ItalyDei 191931 Francesco Camusso ItalyGloria 181930 Luigi Marchisio ItalyLegnano 17 1929 Alfredo Binda(4) ItalyLegnano 16 1928 Alfredo Binda(3) ItalyLegnano 15 1927 Alfredo Binda(2) ItalyLegnano 14 1926 Giovanni Brunero(3) ItalyLegnano 13 1925 Alfredo Binda ItalyLegnano 12 1924 Giuseppe Enrici Italy11 1923 Costante Girardengo ItalyMaino 10 1922 Giovanni Brunero(2) ItalyLegnano 9 1921 Giovanni Brunero ItalyLegnano 8 1920 Gaetano Belloni Italy Bianchi7 1919 Costante Girardengo ItalyStucchi 1915 to 1918: suspended due to World War I6 1914 Alfonso Calzolari ItalyStucchi 5 1913 Carlo Oriani ItalyMaino 4 1912 Team Atala: Carlo Galetti(3),
Giovanni Micheletto,
Eberardo Pavesi ItalyTeam Atala 31911 Carlo Galetti(2) Italy Bianchi 21910 Carlo Galetti ItalyTeam Atala 11909 Luigi Ganna ItalyTeam Atala

Victories per country

# Country Victories 1. Italy65 2. Belgium7 3. France6 4. Switzerland3 5. Spain3 6. Russia2 6. Luxembourg2 8. Ireland1 8. United States1 8. Sweden1

Giro d'Italia stage victories

[1]Name Country Wins 1 Mario Cipollini Italy42 2 Alfredo Binda Italy41 3 Learco Guerra Italy31 4 Costante Girardengo Italy30 5 Eddy Merckx Belgium25 6 Alessandro Petacchi Italy24 6 Giuseppe Saronni Italy24 8 Francesco Moser Italy23 9 Fausto Coppi Italy22 9 Roger De Vlaeminck Belgium22 11 Franco Bitossi Italy21 12 Giuseppe Olmo Italy20 12 Miguel Poblet Spain20

References

^ 87th Giro d'Italia: a bit of History (html). dailypeloton.com. Retrieved on 2007-10-29.

External links

Giro d'Italia v • d • e

1909 • 1910 • 1911 • 1912 • 1913 • 1914
suspended due to World War I
1919 • 1920 • 1921 • 1922 • 1923 • 1924 • 1925 • 1926 • 1927 • 1928 • 1929
1930 • 1931 • 1932 • 1933 • 1934 • 1935 • 1936 • 1937 • 1938 • 1939 • 1940
suspended due to World War II
1946 • 1947 • 1948 • 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961
1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977
1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993
1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009