A Little About the Giro d'Italia

The Giro d’Italia, more commonly known as “The Giro”, is one of the three Grand Tours, road bicycling races, held in May/early June. This three week long race travels primarily throughout Italy, but has ventured into neighboring countries from time to time. On May 13, 1909, 127 cyclists raced through the streets of Milan for the 1^st Giro d’Italir. Only 49 riders finished the 2448 kilometers with Italian Luigi Ganna winning overall. Over the next 100 years and 93 editions of the Giro, Italy riders would be victorious the majority of time.

Throughout the years many records have been made and broken, but some have stood the test of times. A few interesting Giro bests include:

· Most Giro d'Italia victories = 5 by Alfredo Binda, Fausto Coppi, and Eddy Merckx

· Smallest margin of victory = Fiorenzo Magni wins by 11 seconds over Ezio Cecchi

· Longest Giro d'Italia = 4,337 km in 1954

· Shortest Giro d'Italia = 2,245 km in 1909

· Most Giro stage victories = Mario Cipollini with 42 wins

· Most victories by country = Italy with 66 victories

A name that is always associated with the Giro is Alfredo Binda. Previously mentioned, he holds the record for the most Giro wins. That is not all the records he holds though. Binda has also won the most stage victories, 12, in one Giro and holds the record for the most consecutive stage wins, 8. He has won 41 total Giro stages in his career. Binda proved to be such an untouchable Giro contender that after his 4^th win the race organizers paid him not to race the following year so other riders could have a chance to win the pink leaders jersey. He returned for a few more years and one more tour win before he was forced to retire after a nasty fall in the 1934 Giro. Needless to say, Binda will always be remembered as a talented cyclist.

The Giro is, needless to say, a difficult race and certainly gets riders as well as spectators anxious for the following grand tour, Le Tour de France.