1956 Giro d'Italia

Fifteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1956 edition of the Giro d'Italia.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2#page/5/mode/1up|title=I Partenti|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=19 May 1956|page=5|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Participants|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223205830/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}} Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 105 cyclists.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/60496/files/1956-05-19.pdf|title=La vieille garde (Coppi et Magni) résistera-t-elle une nouvelle fois aux assauts de la génération montante?|trans-title=Will the old guard (Coppi and Magni) resist once again the assaults of the rising generation?|language=fr|work=Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel|date=19 May 1956|page=4|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001051332/http://doc.rero.ch/record/60496/files/1956-05-19.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live|via=RERO}} From the riders that began the race, 43 made it to the finish in Milan.{{cite web|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1956.html |title=1956 Giro d'Italia |work=Bike Race Info|author= Bill and Carol McGann |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing|access-date=2012-07-10}}

The teams entering the race were:{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |title=Sei i nomi per il gioco del pronostico |language=it |date=19 May 1956 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=You are the names for the prediction game|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501032422/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2019}}

The race was thought to be more open in previous years due to notable absences of top riders like Louison Bobet due to sickness, 1950 winner Hugo Koblet as he was recovering from a back injury and desired to focus on the Tour de France,{{sfn|Wadley|1956|p=25}} Stan Ockers, Ferdinand Kübler, and Raphaël Géminiani, along with the innovations regarding the race route.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/100701/files/1956-05-19.pdf|title=Les coureurs "du Giro" s'élancent pour une ronde de 3520 km|trans-title="Giro" riders set off for a 3520 km round|language=fr|work=L'Impartial|date=19 May 1956|page=7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001052354/http://doc.rero.ch/record/100701/files/1956-05-19.pdf|archive-date=1 October 2019|url-status=live|via=RERO}} A Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel writer felt that the race would offer a great opportunity for the younger riders to succeed as the previous great riders like Coppi are getting too old. Previous year's winner Fiorenzo Magni (Nivea-Fuchs) was one of the older generation of riders to enter the race in great form, coming off of a win at the Tour of Piedmont. In addition, Magni had announced that this would be his last Giro as he would retire as the season's end. The writer continued naming young Italians with potential to contend like Gastone Nencini (Leo–Chlorodont), following his performance in last Giro, amateur road race champion Sante Ranucci (Legnano), and Aldo Moser (Torpado). Jean Brankart lead the primarily Belgian Eldorado team and was viewed as a rider who would win a Tour de France. Some viewed Charly Gaul (Faema) as a favorite to contend for the overall. Spanish contenders were thought to be climber Federico Bahamontes (Girardengo), while sprinter Miguel Poblet (Faema) was thought to be a favorite for the flatter stages.

The route was revealed on 24 February 1956.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10485&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|title=Struttura, novita e percorso del Giro d'Italia 1956|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=25 February 1956|page=1 & 7|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Structure, news and route of the 1956 Giro d'Italia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502165709/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10485&p=1#page/1/mode/2up |archive-date=2 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/02/25/page_006.pdf |title=Varato il Giro al fruscio delle prime corse |language=it |date=25 February 1956 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=The Giro was launched at the rustling of the first races|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502170959/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/02/25/page_006.pdf|archive-date=2 May 2019}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/02/25/MD19560225-001.pdf |title="La Gazzetta dello Sport" ofrece la patrocincion del equipo espanol en el <>|language=es |date=25 February 1956 |page=1 |publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title="La Gazzetta dello Sport" offers sponsorship of the Spanish team in the << Giro >> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502171819/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/02/25/MD19560225-001.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/02/25/MD19560225-003.pdf |title="La Gazzetta dello Sport" |language=es |date=25 February 1956 |page=3 |publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title="La Gazzetta dello Sport" |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502172501/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/02/25/MD19560225-003.pdf|archive-date=2 May 2019 |url-status=live }} The race contained eight stages with mountains, which contained sixteen categorized climbs.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |title=Su Queste Montagne Si Decidera|language=it |date=19 May 1956 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=On these mountains will decide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501032422/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,5/articleid,1586_02_1956_0080_0005_22114360/|title=Una tappa di tre chilometri novita del Giro d'Italia '56|language=it|date=4 April 1956|page=5|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|format=PDF|trans-title=A three-kilometer stage of the '56 Italian Tour

}} The race route all together contained 3 rest days and 23 stages across 25 days of racing, of which 18 were mass-start stages, two individual time trials, one team time trial event, and one individual time trial run as a relay. The relay event took place in San Marino. The second day of racing featured a split stage where the second half was a team time trial that was contested at night to not interfere with a local football match that was happening in the afternoon. The planned tenth stage from Salerno to Frascati was deemed an "electoral stage" at the route's announcement and was chosen to be removed because it fell on the day of Italian municipal elections. Three new Dolomite mountains were climbed during this edition of the race: Monte Bondone ({{convert|1300|m|0|abbr=on}}), San-Pellegrino ({{convert|1918|m|0|abbr=on}}), and Vallès ({{convert|2033|m|0|abbr=on}} meters). Eleven categorized climbs from the Apennines were included in the race route, with the Pian di Creto ({{convert|605|m|0|abbr=on}}) being utilized in the second stage. For the first time in race history, the cities of Lecco, Rapallo, Salice Terme were stops for the Giro.

When interviewed about the route several current and former riders said.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |title=Speranze e timori |language=it |date=19 May 1956 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=Hopes and fears|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501032422/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/19/page_006.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2019 |url-status=dead }} The route was thought to be difficult.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/18/page_006.pdf |title=Sara pesante la strada dei "girini"!|language=it |date=18 May 1956 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |format=PDF |trans-title=The road of the "tadpoles" will be heavy

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501033541/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1956/05/18/page_006.pdf|archive-date=1 May 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10551&p=2#page/2/mode/2up|title=Sette candidati per un posto solo|author=Ennio Mantella|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=18 May 1956|page=1 & 8|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Seven candidates for a single post|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501035728/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10551&p=2#page/2/mode/2up|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2#page/5/mode/1up|title=C'e nell'aria qualcosa di nuovo|author=Ennio Mantella|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=19 May 1956|page=1 & 6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=There is something new in the air|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223205830/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2#page/5/mode/1up|title=La parola... ai modesti|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=19 May 1956|page=6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The word... to the modest|author=Mario de Angelis|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223205830/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10552&p=2|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/05/19/MD19560519-001.pdf|author=Mario de Angelis |title=Hoy se Inicia La Vuelta a Italia |language=es |date=19 May 1956 |page=1 |publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=Today The Tour of Italy Starts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501034235/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/05/19/MD19560519-001.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/05/19/MD19560519-004.pdf|author=Mario de Angelis |title=Hoy se Inicia La Vuelta a Italia |language=es |date=19 May 1956 |page=4 |publisher=El Mundo Deportivo |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=Today The Tour of Italy Starts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501034558/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD02/HEM/1956/05/19/MD19560519-004.pdf |archive-date=1 May 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10520&p=1#page/1/mode/1up|title=Il Giro d'Italia di ieri di oggi|author=Enrico Vignolini|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=7 April 1956|page=1 & 8|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Giro d'Italia of yesterday today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501040944/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=10520&p=1#page/1/mode/2up|archive-date=1 May 2019|url-status=live}}

One jersey was worn during the 1956 Giro d'Italia. 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 }}

There were three mountains classifications in the 1956 Giro d'Italia, one for the Dolomites, Apennines, and one for the highest mountain in the race, the Passo dello Stelvio. The rider that was the first over the Stelvio was Ignis' Aurelio Del Rio.{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,4/articleid,0059_01_1956_0133_0004_14488297/|title=Del Rio primo sul valico dello Stelvio e Maule vincitore in volata a Merano|language=it|date=8 June 1956|page=4|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|format=PDF|trans-title=Del Rio on the first pass of the Stelvio and Maule winner in the sprint in Merano}} Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the teams were awarded points for their rider's performance during the stages.

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• {{cite magazine |last=Wadley |first= J.B. |title=Hugo Koblet, the pedaller of charm, plans to hit the headlines again and says: Tour de France Victory is My Goal This Year |url=http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Coureur%20Vol.%2001%20No.%2002%20Spring%201956%20(V-CC%20Library).pdf|journal= Coureur |publisher= J. B. Wadley|volume= 1 |issue= 2 |year = 1956 |pages=20–25, 43 |access-date=28 March 2019|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328152547/http://veterancycleclublibrary.org.uk/ncl/pics/Coureur%20Vol.%2001%20No.%2002%20Spring%201956%20(V-CC%20Library).pdf}}

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{{1956 Challenge Desgrange-Colombo}}

{{Giro d'Italia}}

{{Giro d'Italia general classification winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Giro D'italia, 1956}}

1956

Category:1956 in road cycling

Category:May 1956 sports events in Europe

Category:June 1956 sports events in Europe

Category:1956 Challenge Desgrange-Colombo