1953 Giro d'Italia

File:Giro d'Italia 1953.jpg during the tenth stage of the race.|alt=A group of cyclists riding in Rome.]]

Sixteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1953 edition of the Giro d'Italia.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9307&p=2#page/1/mode/1up|title=16 squadre 112 atleti|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=12 May 1953|page=1|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=16 teams 112 athletes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223204608/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9307&p=2|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}} Like the Tour de France the teams were nation based for the first time at the Giro,{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/228052/files/1953-05-12.pdf|title=Le depart du Tour d'Italie sera donne aujourd'hui a Milan |trans-title=The start of the Tour of Italy will be given today in Milan|language=fr|work= La Sentinelle|date=12 May 1953|page=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001191415/http://doc.rero.ch/record/228052/files/1953-05-12.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live|via=RERO}} with each national team being sponsored by an Italian brand.{{cite web|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1953.html |title=1953 Giro d'Italia |work=Bike Race Info|author= Bill and Carol McGann |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing|access-date=2012-07-10}} Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 112 cyclists.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/261987/files/1953-05-12.pdf|title=Aujourd'hui, départ du 36 Tour de Italie|trans-title=Today, the 36th Tour of Italy departs|language=fr|newspaper=La Liberté|date=12 May 1953|page=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001190947/http://doc.rero.ch/record/261987/files/1953-05-12.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live|via=RERO}} From the riders that began the race, 72 made it to the finish in Milan. In total there were 35 foreign riders that started the race.

The teams entering the race were:

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• {{UCI team code|Arbos|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Atala|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Bartali|1953}}
• Bianchi
• {{UCI team code|Bottecchia|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Fiorelli|1953}}
• Francia
• {{UCI team code|Frejus|1953}}
• Ganna
• {{UCI team code|Girardengo|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Guerra|1953}}
• Legnano
• Levirere
• {{UCI team code|Locomotief|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Torpado|1953}}
• {{UCI team code|Welter|1953}}

{{div col end}}

The "Big Three" of Gino Bartali (Bartali), Fausto Coppi (Bianchi), and Fiorenzo Magni (Ganna) were expected to dominate the general classification. A La Liberté writer felt that young riders Giancarlo Astrua (Atala), Nino Defilippis (Legnano), Pasquale Fornara (Bottecchia), and climber Bruno Monti (Arbos) would be exciting to watch throughout the race to see their potential. French rider and Swiss riders were thought to be very strong, while Spanish riders Bernardo Ruiz and Michel Gual were thought to be their country's best riders.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/05/12/page_005.pdf|author=Attilio Camoriano|title=Koblet: una spina nel cuore di Coppi |language=it |date=12 May 1953 |page=5 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=Koblet: A thorn in the heart of Coppi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719032536/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/05/12/page_005.pdf|archive-date=19 July 2021 }} Swiss rider and former Giro winner Hugo Koblet (Cilo) was regarded as being in sensational form entering the Giro, coming off a win at the Tour de Romandie. Taking that into account with his good health, the media felt Koblet could be the one to challenge Coppi best.

A notable absence from the race was Bianchi rider Loretto Petrucci who had won the previous two Milan–San Remo, who was not brought to the race because of his young age according to his team; however, he had previously raced in 1951 and 1952. A La Sentinelle writer believed that Petrucci's omission from the race was due to Petrucci's desire to race for victories and not for the team leader Coppi.

On 26 March, the route was announced to be from 12 May to 28 May.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9269&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|title=Il Giro d'Italia del 12 al 28 Maggio|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=27 March 1953|page=1 & |access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Tour of Italy from May 12 to 28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503212723/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9269&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|archive-date=3 May 2019|url-status=live}} It was later rumored on 30 March, that the race may include the Olympic stadium.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9273&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|title=Il Giro d'Italia allo Stadio Olimpiconel giorno di Italia-Ungheria|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=1 April 1953|page=1 & 6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Giro d'Italia at the Stadio Olimpiconel day of Italy-Hungary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503212954/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9273&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|archive-date=3 May 2019|url-status=live}} The full route was later unveiled on 9 April 1953, with a changed finale on the 2 June.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9281&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|title=Il Giro d'Italia in venti tappe e due giornate di riposo dal 12 maggio al 2 giugno|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=10 April 1953|page=1 & 6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Giro d'Italia in twenty stages and two days of rest from 12 May to 2 June|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504033543/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9281&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|archive-date=4 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9282&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|title=Il Giro d'Italia il percorso e la formula|work=Corriere dello Sport|author=Ennio Mantella|date=11 April 1953|page=1 & 5|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Giro d'Italia the route and the formula|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504033951/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9282&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|archive-date=4 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/04/10/page_005.pdf |title=Fissate le 20 tappe del "Giro d'Italia" |language=it |date=10 April 1953 |page=5 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=Set the 20 stages of the "Giro d'Italia" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504034325/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/04/10/page_005.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2019 }}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/04/11/page_005.pdf|title=Ecco il "Giro"! |language=it |date=11 April 1953 |page=5 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=Here is the "Giro"!|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504034343/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1953/04/11/page_005.pdf |archive-date=4 May 2019 }} The race route featured 20 days of racing spread across 22 days as 20 May in Pisa and 27 May in San Pellegrino were set aside as rest days.

The race started outside the Piazza del Duomo in Milan.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/228053/files/1953-05-13.pdf|title=Abandons de Kubler and Graf|trans-title=Kubler and Graf abandon|language=fr|work= La Sentinelle|date=13 May 1953|page=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001191050/http://doc.rero.ch/record/228053/files/1953-05-13.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live|via=RERO}} Ferdinand Kubler withdrew from the race early on due to disputes.

The leader of the general classification – calculated by adding the stage finish times of each rider – wore a pink jersey. This classification is the most important of the race, and its winner is considered as the winner of the Giro.{{cite web|author=Laura Weislo |url=http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08 |title=Giro d'Italia classifications demystified |date=13 May 2008 |work=Cycling News |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |access-date=13 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508234448/http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/road/2008/giro08/?id=/features/2008/giro_classifications08 |archive-date=8 May 2013 |url-status=live }} Time bonuses were awarded to the stage winner and the first riders to summit categorized climbs. Riders were allowed to have teammates and team cars help to following accidents and punctures. "Strollers" in years past were punished with small fines, but in this edition of the race they were punished by time adjustments and repeat offenses may lead to disqualification from the race. The winner of the race received 1 million lire, while the remainder of the podium received 450,000 lire each.

Two additional jerseys were in use. The green jersey was given to the best foreign cyclist in the general classification; at the end of the Giro it was worn by Swiss Hugo Koblet. The white jersey was given to the best cyclist riding with a licence for independents; this was won by Angelo Conterno.{{cite news|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9326&p=1#page/7/mode/1up|title=Classifica indipendenti; Classifica stranieri|publisher=Corriere dello Sport|date=11 June 1951|language=it|access-date=7 October 2015}} The winner of each classification earned 500,000 lire.

The mountains classification leader was not identified by a special jersey. The climbs all awarded three points to the first rider and one point to the second rider to cross the summit. There was one category for mountains which awarded five points down to one point for the first riders to cross the summit.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9309&p=2#page/6/mode/1up|title=Classifica del G. P. della Montagna dopo il traguardo di San Marino|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=14 May 1953|page=6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Ranking of Mountain GP after the finish of San Marino|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404231255/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9309&p=2|archive-date=4 April 2015|url-status=live}} The winner of the mountains classification was given 400,000 lire. Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the stage finish times of the best three cyclists per team were added; the leading team was the one with the lowest total time. The team winning team received 2.5 million lire.

Each day leading the general classification earned the rider and his team 100,000 lira, while the independent rider and foreign rider earned 25,000 lira each day for leading their respective classifications.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9318&p=2#page/2/mode/2up|title=Taccuino del "Giro"|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=25 May 1953|page=11|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title="Giro" Notebook|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430192135/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=9318&p=2#page/2/mode/2up|archive-date=30 April 2019|url-status=live}}

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{{1953 Challenge Desgrange-Colombo}}

{{Giro d'Italia}}

{{Giro d'Italia general classification winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giro D'italia}}

1953

Category:1953 in Italian sport

Category:1953 in road cycling

Category:May 1953 sports events in Europe

Category:June 1953 sports events in Europe

Category:1953 Challenge Desgrange-Colombo