[CR]49Giro 21 May race recap

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From: "Aldo Ross" <swampmtn@siscom.net>
To: <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 16:01:55 -0400
Subject: [CR]49Giro 21 May race recap

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Race summary: 21 May 1949

PALERMO - CATANIA 261 km.

The first stage of the 32° Giro started fast. The first attack of the race came from Serafino Biagioni, Glauco Servadei (both from the Viscontea team), Adriano Lugatti, Mario Fazio (both Bottecchia), Bartolomeo Bof (Atala), Gildo Monari (Fiorelli). They remained together through Pontisso, where Antonio Bevilacqua (Atala) and Andrea Carrea (Bianchi) were the first to catch them. At kilometer 34 the eight riders had an advantage 2'35".

At kilometer 50 old Servadei was dropped, the pace too fast for the stocky rider from Romano. The group's lead climbed to 4'20", an average of 41 kph. At the crossroad of St.Stefano the piemontese Carrea attacks, and only Fazio, Lugatti and Monari can follow. After 115 kilometers the peloton trails by 9 minutes. On the difficult climb to Mistretta, 900 meters altitude, Lugatti loses contact. The Mountain Grand Prix Montagna on the Colle del Contrasto (1120 meters) goes to Fazio, earning him a bonus of 1 minute, followed by Monari, with a 30 seconds bonus, then Carrea with 15 seconds bonus.

Monari has a puncture, and slowly loses contact. At 180 km the lead is 6'50"; Fazio and Carrea of still strong and increasing their advantage. Monari tries to regain contact with the leading pair, but suffers another puncture 60 km from Catania, and the 31-year-old from Emilia gives-up the chase.

While the fans all cheered for Fazio, the main field has fallen to pieces, and Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali lead the chase. Giordano Cottur (Wilier Triestina) chases the leaders. He quickly gains time on the two leaders, but fails to catch them.

Fazio drops Carrea, and rides on alone into Catania. Carrea is second, Cottur third, and Fausto Coppi leads in a small group to take fourth ahead of Corriere and Bartali.

ARRIVAL ORDER

1° Mario Fazio, in 7h47'55" (time bonus 2:00) 2° Andrea Carrea, at six bike lengths (time bonus 0:45) 3° Giordano Cottur à 36" 4° Fausto Coppi à 2'21" 5° Giovani Corrieri (same time) 6° Gino Bartali (same time) 7° Adolfo Leoni (same time) 8° Fritz Schaer (same time) 9° LucianoMaggini (same time) 10° Nedo Logli (same time)

Pink leaders jersey - Mario Fazio