Re: [CR]Gaul in the Snow

(Example: Events)

Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 20:03:12 +0000 (GMT)
From: "Michael Butler" <pariscycles@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [CR]Gaul in the Snow
To: Aldo Ross <aldoross4@siscom.net>
In-Reply-To: <001901c5fe6d$a61b1410$f314fbd1@Newhouse>
cc: CR Rendezvous <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

Aldo, I think you are right 1956 on the "Bondone" on the Merano-Trente stage. This is the one when Pasquale Fornara who was one of the better climbers was leading the Giro and was expected to win. The stage started under heavy clouds with a fierce icy wind blowing. In the next hour it started raining heavily and as the road climbed higher it turned to snow. As they approached the highest parts of the Dolomite's there was a blizzard raging even in the press cars they were freezing but at least they were sheltered from the cold, it was frightful1. Fornara was one of the first to climb off and he found shelter in a house, loads of other riders were doing the same and their directors were ordering them to get back on and ride, do the job they were being paid for. Mostly what they got from the riders was here is the f-----g bike see what its like for yourself. That's from the ones who could talk mostly they were frozen to the bone teeth chattering and their bodies stiff from the cold. The journalists knew they were witnessing one of the greatest dramas in road racing history. Nobody knew who or how many would survive the ordeal. As the press cars forced there way to the front of the field, they came across riders one by one, separated by 10 minutes or more pleading for hot drinks, a blanket anything to keep them from freezing to death. With Fornara beaten and sheltering in a house Fiorenze Magni became race leader. He was as tough as old boots but he too was ready to quit and climbed off. "But Fiorenze" you have the Maglia Rose!" shouted his team mechanic and rescued his bike he had thrown down in disgust "You're winning the Giro your winning! Whilst all of this high drama was taking place a search was on for an missing rider the searcher was Learco Guerra former World champion and manager of the Faema team. The man they were looking for was Charly Gaul who had not been seen for over twenty five minutes. Guerra was driving up the pass peering through a snow clogged windscreen when he saw a bike leaning against the wall of a dingy mountain bar. That's Charly's bike he said to the team mechanic, they rushed into the trattoria and there sitting on a chair was Charly Gaul, exhausted, freezing cold and so dead to the world he could hardly speak. Guerra and the mechanic gently coaxed him, take your time Charly we will take care of you. The masseur ripped off Gaul's soaking jersey and shorts. They poured warm water over the riders body. Then rubbed him down from head to foot, slowly he came back to life. He lost the glazed look and in a few minutes was a new man and it did not need much persuasion by Guerra to get him back on his bike again. Outside the snow was still falling and it was all over the road with the "Bondone" still to climb. A fierce wicked climb several miles long with the stage finish at the summit. There was no winged climber about Charly that horrendous day but a poor suffering frozen rider wondering why he had left the sanctity and warmth of the bar. With lots of encouragement he reached the top literally miles in front of Fiorenza Magni who finished second twelve and a half minutes behind. No one who witnessed that fateful day could believe that riders had braved those terrible icy conditions. On the way up 44 riders had fallen by the wayside. Gaul's triumphant ride gave him the leaders jersey with a few minutes to spare over Magni. Needless to say he held the lead to the end. Ironically next year he lost the Giro on the "Bondone" due to a tactical error he stopped for a pee the bunch attacked he lost the jersey and the Giro. Nencini won. Cheers Mick.


--- Aldo Ross wrote:


> Another nice pic of Charly Gaul, this time on La
> Gazzetta dello Sport,
> showing Charly riding in the snow:
>
> http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/Giroditalia/2006/pres/lastoria.html
>
> I think that might be 1956.
>
> Aldo Ross
> Middletown, Ohio
>
> _______________________________________________
> Classicrendezvous mailing list
> Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> http://www.bikelist.org/mailman/listinfo/classicrendezvous
>

Thats all for now. Keep those wheels spinning, in your memories if not still on the road. Be lucky Mick Butler Huntingdon UK.

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