1968 Giro d'Italia#Points classification

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}

{{Infobox cycling race report

| name = 1968 Giro d'Italia

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| image_alt =

| date = 20 May - 12 June 1968

| stages = 22 + Prologue

| distance = 3917.3

| unit = km

| time = 108h 42' 27"

| speed = 36.035

| first = Eddy Merckx

| first_nat = BEL

| first_team = Faema

| first_color = pink

| second = Vittorio Adorni

| second_nat = ITA

| second_team = Faema

| third = Felice Gimondi

| third_nat = ITA

| third_team = Salvarani

| points = Eddy Merckx

| points_nat = BEL

| points_team = Faema

| points_color = red

| mountains = Eddy Merckx

| mountains_nat = BEL

| mountains_team = Faema

| mountains_color =

| combination =

| combination_nat =

| combination_team =

| combination_color =

| team = Faema

| teampoints =

| previous = 1967

|next = 1969

}}

The 1968 Giro d'Italia was the 51st running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. The Giro started in Campione d'Italia, on 20 May, with a {{convert|5.7|km|1|abbr=on}} stage and concluded in Naples, on 11 June, with a {{convert|235|km|1|abbr=on}} mass-start stage. A total of 130 riders from 13 teams entered the 22-stage race, which was won by Belgian Eddy Merckx of the Faema team. The second and third places were taken by Italians Vittorio Adorni and Felice Gimondi, respectively.{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/13/MD19680613-018.pdf |title=Perlas del "Giro" |language=es |date=13 June 1968 |page=18 |newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo S.A. |access-date=21 April 2013|trans-title=Giro's Pearls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312212240/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/13/MD19680613-018.pdf|archive-date=12 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1968_06/19680612_0010.pdf |title=La <> del doping sta per scoppiare? |language=it |date=12 June 1968 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=The <> of doping is about to burst? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312211949/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1968_06%2F19680612_0010.pdf |archive-date=2015-03-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1968_06/19680617_0008.pdf |title=Gimondi: <> Motta: <> |language=it |date=17 June 1968 |page=8 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=Gimondi: << I swear, is not it! >> Motta: << There is something behind? >> |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312211800/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1968_06%2F19680617_0008.pdf |archive-date=2015-03-12 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://soigneur.nl/stories/turning-through-the-clouds/|title=Part 6: Turning Through the Clouds|date=25 May 2018 |author=Paul Maunder|work=Soigneur|access-date=27 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024005603/https://soigneur.nl/stories/turning-through-the-clouds/ |archive-date=24 October 2019 |url-status= live}}

Teams

{{main|List of teams and cyclists in the 1968 Giro d'Italia}}

At the route's announcement on 21 March, the organizers announced twelve teams of ten would participate;{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/03/22/MD19680322-011.pdf |title=El <> de Italia de este Ano |language=es |date=22 March 1968 |page=11|newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo|author=Juan Plans Bosch|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo S.A. |access-date=21 April 2019|trans-title=The <> of Italy this year|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017044910/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/03/22/MD19680322-011.pdf|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}} however, one more team (Peugeot) was later invited.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13521&p=1#page/2/mode/1up|title=Partono in 129 (la Pepsi rinuncia al decimo)|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=20 May 1968|page=3|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Start at 129 (Pepsi waiver to tenth)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228020738/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13521&p=1|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13522&p=1#page/3/mode/1up|title=Partono in 130, Brand nella Pepsi|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=21 May 1968|page=3|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Starting in 130, in the Pepsi Brand|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228020548/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13522&p=1#page/1/mode/1up|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news|author=Gianni Pignata|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,13/articleid,1533_02_1968_0093_0013_21628260/|title=Un Giro con molte novita e con tanti campioni in lizza|language=it|date=19 April 1968|page=13|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=A Tour with many novelties and with so many champions in contention.}} Each team sent a squad of ten riders so the Giro began with a peloton of 130 cyclists. Out of the 130 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 98 riders made it to the finish in Naples where eight riders were subsequently disqualified for testing positive for drugs leaving the general classification tally at 90 riders.{{cite web|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1968.html |title=1968 Giro d'Italia |work=Bike Race Info |author=Bill and Carol McGann |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing |access-date=2012-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227170306/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1968.html |archive-date=2014-02-27 |url-status=live }} The starting peloton consisted of 70 Italians, 16 Belgians, 15 Frenchmen, 11 Spanish, 7 Swiss, four Germans, three Dutch, two Danes, one English, and one Luxembourgian rider.{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,9/articleid,0120_02_1968_0118_0009_8086232/|title=Tredici squadre|language=it|date=20 March 1968|page=9|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=Thirteen Teams}} The presentation of the teams – where each team's roster and manager were introduced in front the media and local dignitaries – took place on 20 May, in the Campione d'Italia at 9:30 AM local time.{{cite news|author=Gigi Boccacini|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,9/articleid,0120_02_1968_0118_0009_8086232/|title=Sarà una corsa dura|language=it|date=20 March 1968|page=9|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=It will be a tough race}}

The teams entering the race were:

style="vertical-align:top; width:25%;"|

  • {{UCI team code|Bic|1968}}
  • Faema
  • {{UCI team code|Fagor|1968}}
  • {{UCI team code|Filotex|1968}}
  • {{UCI team code|GBC|1968}}

| style="vertical-align:top; width:25%;"|

| style="vertical-align:top; width:25%;"|

  • {{UCI team code|Vittadello|1968}}
  • {{UCI team code|Peugeot|1968}}
  • {{UCI team code|Salvarani|1968}}
  • {{UCI team code|Smith's|1968}}

Pre-race favorites

The starting peloton did include the previous year's winner Felice Gimondi. Eddy Merckx was confirmed to participate with his Faema team. Eight-time Grand Tour winner Jacques Anquetil did not participate in the race because of a dispute over pay.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/64146/files/1968-05-20.pdf|title=Gimondi fait figure de grand favori mais attention au Belge Eddy Merckx|trans-title=Gimondi is a big favorite, but beware of Belgian Eddy Merckx|language=fr|newspaper=Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel|date=20 May 1968|page=16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023004358/http://doc.rero.ch/record/64146/files/1968-05-20.pdf|archive-date=23 October 2019|via=RERO}}{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/194646/files/1968-05-20.pdf|title=Le duel Gimondi-Merckx|trans-title=The Gimondi-Merckx duel|language=fr|newspaper=Nouvelliste et Feuille d'Avis du Valais|date=20 May 1968|page=13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023004526/http://doc.rero.ch/record/194646/files/1968-05-20.pdf|archive-date=23 October 2019|via=RERO}}

Route and stages

The race route was revealed to the public on 21 March 1968 by race director Vincenzo Torriani.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1968/03/22/page_010.pdf|title=Questo il <> del '68|language=it |date=22 March 1968 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|author=Gino Sala|trans-title=This is the <> of '68 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428212239/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1968/03/22/page_010.pdf|archive-date=28 April 2019 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13474&p=1#page/14/mode/1up|title=Ecco il Giro!|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=20 May 1968|pages=1, 5, & 10|access-date=7 July 2019|language=it|trans-title=A ride at high altitude|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017044649/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13474&p=1#page/5/mode/1up|archive-date=17 October 2019|url-status=live}} The starting date of the event was moved from 18 or 19 May to the 20th because of the general election taking place within Italy that ended on 19 May.{{cite news|author=Gianni Pignata|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,11/articleid,1533_02_1968_0061_0011_21622420/|title=Il Giro d'Italia partira il 20 (o il 21) maggio|language=it|date=12 March 1968|page=11|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=The Tour of Italy will start the 20 (or 21) in May}} The race was broadcast by RAI throughout Italy. l'Unita writer Gino Sala's felt the route was geared towards climbers, referencing the inclusion of Tre Cime di Lavaredo which had been the previous year and eliminated several riders. Former racer Cino Cinelli felt the Tre Cime di Lavaredo would be the decisive stage, while three-time champion Gino Bartali felt the Spanish would benefit from the route. The average length of the stages was {{convert|178|km|0|abbr=on}}. The second individual time trial, in San Marino, was seen as an important stage as it featured inclines of 5-6%. Gianni Motta commented that "I've never seen so many mountains in a row one after another." Four mountains approached or exceeded {{convert|2000|m|0|abbr=on}}: Monte Grappa, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Rocca di Cambio, and Blockhaus. Following the route's unveil, El Mundo Deportivo author Juan Plans Bosch wrote that the Giro would always be second to the Tour de France as it was the first premier bike race, while he felt the Giro had better "historical and geographical illustrations."

To begin race festivities there was a parade through the streets of Campione d'Italia before the prologue started during the night. The race started with a {{convert|5.7|km|0|abbr=on}} prologue, which consisted of a {{convert|2.875|km|0|abbr=on}} circuit being crossed twice. The times from this stage were not included in the final times for the general classification, but were just done to determine the first person to wear the race leader's maglia rosa ({{langx|en|pink jersey}}). This was the first Giro d'Italia to have a prologue to open the race. The 130 starting riders were divided into thirteen groups of ten, with each group of ten contesting the course at the same time. The times of the fastest riders from each group were put together and the fastest of those times was the rider that would wear the first pink jersey. The route finished for the first time in Naples near Mount Vesuvius along the Mediterranean Ocean.

class="wikitable"

|+ Stage characteristics and winners{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13521&p=1#page/2/mode/1up|title=Un Giro ad alta quota|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=20 May 1968|page=3|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=A ride at high altitude|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228020738/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13521&p=1|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1968_03/19680322_0010.pdf |title=Questo il <> del '68 |language=it |date=22 March 1968 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=This is the <> of '68 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513193441/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1968_03%2F19680322_0010.pdf |archive-date=2016-05-13 |url-status=dead }}

style="background:#efefef;"

!Stage

!Date

!Course

!Distance

!colspan="2"|Type

!Winner

style="text-align:center"| P

| style="text-align:center;"| 20 May

| Campione d'Italia

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|5.7|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Time Trial.svg

| Individual time trial

| {{flagathlete|Charly Grosskost|FRA}}{{refn|name=Prol|group=N|The times from the prologue did not count towards the general classification, but were used to determine what rider would wear the race leader's maglia rosa on the first stage of the race.}}

style="text-align:center"| 1

| style="text-align:center;"| 21 May

| Campione d'Italia to Novara

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|128|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 2

| style="text-align:center;"| 22 May

| Novara to Saint-Vincent

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|189|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}}{{refn|name=Motta|group=N|The original stage winner, Gianna Motta, was found to have used performance enhancing drugs and his results were subsequently voided.}}

style="text-align:center"| 3

| style="text-align:center;"| 23 May

| Saint-Vincent to Alba

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|168|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Guido Reybrouck|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 4

| style="text-align:center;"| 24 May

| Alba to Sanremo

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|162|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Ward Sels|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 5

| style="text-align:center;"| 25 May

| Sanremo to Sanremo

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|149|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Italo Zilioli|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 6

| style="text-align:center;"| 26 May

| Sanremo to Alessandria

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|223|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|José Antonio Momeñe|ESP|1945}}

style="text-align:center"| 7

| style="text-align:center;"| 27 May

| Alessandria to Piacenza

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|174|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Guerrino Tosello|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 8

| style="text-align:center;"| 28 May

| San Giorgio Piacentino to Brescia

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|225|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 9

| style="text-align:center;"| 29 May

| Brescia to Lido di Caldonazzo

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|210|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

style="text-align:center"| 10

| style="text-align:center;"| 30 May

| Trento to Monte Grappa

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|136|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Emilio Casalini|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 11

| style="text-align:center;"| 31 May

| Bassano del Grappa to Trieste

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|197|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Guido Reybrouck|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 12

| style="text-align:center;"| 1 June

| Gorizia to Tre Cime di Lavaredo

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|213|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}}

style="text-align:center"| 13

| style="text-align:center;"| 2 June

| Cortina d'Ampezzo to Vittorio Veneto

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|163|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Lino Farisato|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 14

| style="text-align:center;"| 3 June

| Vittorio Veneto to Marina Romea

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|199|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Luigi Sgarbozza|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 15

| style="text-align:center;"| 4 June

| Ravenna to Imola

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|141|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Marino Basso|ITA}}

| style="text-align:center;"|5 June

|colspan="6" style="text-align:center;"| Rest day

style="text-align:center"| 16

| style="text-align:center;"| 6 June

| Cesenatico to City of San Marino (San Marino)

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|49.3|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Time Trial.svg

| Individual time trial

| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 17

| style="text-align:center;"| 7 June

| City of San Marino (San Marino) to Foligno

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|196|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 18

| style="text-align:center;"| 8 June

| Foligno to Abbadia San Salvatore

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|166|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

style="text-align:center"| 19

| style="text-align:center;"| 9 June

| Abbadia San Salvatore to Rome

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|181|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Luciano Dalla Bona|ITA}}

style="text-align:center"| 20

| style="text-align:center;"| 10 June

| Rome to Rocca di Cambio

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|215|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Luis Pedro Santamarina|ESP|1945}}

style="text-align:center"| 21

| style="text-align:center;"| 11 June

| Rocca di Cambio to Blockhaus

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|198|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Mountainstage.svg

|Stage with mountain(s)

| {{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}{{refn|name=Bodrero|group=N|The original stage winner, Franco Bodrero, was found to have used performance enhancing drugs and his results were subsequently voided.}}

style="text-align:center"| 22

| style="text-align:center;"| 12 June

| Chieti to Naples

| style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|235|km|0|abbr=on}}

| style="text-align:center;"| File:Plainstage.svg

|Plain stage

| {{flagathlete|Guido Reybrouck|BEL}}

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| Total

| colspan="5" style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|3917.3|km|0|abbr=on}}

Race overview

The race's twelfth stage saw heavy rain from the start of the stage in Gorizia, which turned to snow as the race began to elevate into the Dolomites.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=55}} Police lined the sides of the roads of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo as the riders passed through due to incidents that had occurred on the slopes the previous year.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=55}} The leading group on the road had a ten-minute advantage on Eddy Merckx.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=55}} Merckx was able to traverse the ten-minute gap, win the stage, and take the lead of the race.{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=55}}{{sfn|Fotheringham|2013|p=74}}

=Doping=

At a presentation in Campione d'Italia, Torriani announced the measures for doping controls. This was the first Giro d'Italia to administer tests in attempt to catch riders doping,{{sfn|Foot|2011|p=247}} To determine whether a not tests would be administered, a set of twenty-two envelopes were made with each envelope having a slip of paper inside that read either "Yes" or "No". Following the finish of each stage one envelope was opened, if it read "No," then all riders could leave immediately. If it read "Yes," then riders with high placings on the stage and in the overall classification were tested. The results from these tests, however, would be available fifteen days after the conclusion of the race. On 15 June, the Italian Cycling Federation announced that nine riders had tested positive during the race. The riders were Gimondi, Motta, Franco Balmamion, Franco Bodrero, Raymond Delise, Peter Abt, Victor van Schil, Mariano Diaz, Joaquin Galera.{{sfn|Foot|2011|p=248}}{{cite news|title=Negen renners gebruikten in Giro doping|trans-title=Nine riders used doping in Giro|language=nl|via=Delpher|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010691035:mpeg21:p007|work=Friese koerier|date=17 June 1968|agency=ANP|page=7}}{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/16/MD19680616-022.pdf |title=Gimondi, Motta y Balmamion, entre otros, dopados en el <> |language=es |date=16 June 1968 |page=22|newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo S.A. |access-date=21 April 2013|trans-title=Gimondi, Motta and Balmamion, among others, doped in the << Giro >>

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410193420/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/16/MD19680616-022.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/17/MD19680617-031.pdf |title=De confirmarse los analisis, se esperan descalificaciones automaticas de los culpables |language=es |date=17 June 1968 |page=31 |newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo S.A. |access-date=21 April 2013|trans-title=If the analyzes are confirmed, automatic disqualifications of the culprits are expected

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410193352/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/17/MD19680617-031.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13544&p=1#page/19/mode/1up|title=Controllo-si anche per Balmamion|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=20 May 1968|pages=1, 10|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Control-yes also for Balmamion

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410195454/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13544&p=1#page/1/mode/1up|archive-date=10 April 2019|url-status=live}} Balmamion was cleared of the charges as the substance found in his urine had not been officially banned.{{sfn|Foot|2011|p=250}} Gimondi's ban was overturned on 13 July as he persuaded the authorities he had used Reactivan.{{sfn|Foot|2011|p=250}} Years later, author John Foot wrote "Doubts remain about how much the influence of Gimondi's fame and his ability to employ expensive lawyers and experts had on his case," casting further doubt on the legitimacy of Gimondi's claims of innocence.{{sfn|Foot|2011|p=250}} The Tour de France organizers adopted the Giro's doping control scheme for their 1968 race.{{cite news|author=Geoffrey Nicholson|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37481715/|work=The Observer|page=18|date=23 June 1968|title=Who will win the Tour this year? Have the British team a chance? Will drugs be an important factor?|access-date=18 October 2019|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

Classification Leadership

Two different jerseys were worn during the 1968 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 }}

For the points classification, which awarded a red jersey to its leader,{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=14022&p=1#page/4/mode/1up|title=Trofeo Dreher Forte|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=20 May 1969|page=4|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Dreher Forte Trophy |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141228233039/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=14022&p=1|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}} cyclists were given points for finishing a stage in the top 15.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=12319&p=1#page/9/mode/1up|title=Regolamento|work=Corriere dello Sport|date=19 May 1966|page=9|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Regulation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223155321/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=12337&p=1#page/9/mode/1up|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=dead}} The mountains classification leader. The climbs were ranked in first and second categories. In this ranking, points were won by reaching the summit of a climb ahead of other cyclists. There were a total of nineteen categorized climbs, of which the highest one, the Cima Coppi, was the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.{{cite news|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,9/articleid,0120_02_1968_0118_0009_8086232/|title=Scatta il <>: si decidera in salita|language=it|date=20 March 1968|page=9|newspaper=La Stampa|publisher=Editrice La Stampa|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=Take the <>: you decide uphill?}} 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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"
style="background:#efefef;"

! style="width:1%;"| Stage

! style="width:14%;"| Winner

! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|General classification
File:Jersey pink.svg

! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Points classification
File:Jersey red.svg

! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Mountains classification

! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Team classification

P

| Charly Grosskost

|style="background:pink;"| (Charly Grosskost){{refn|name=Prol|group=N}}

|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| not awarded

|style="background:#EFEFEF;" rowspan="2"| not awarded

|style="background:#EFEFEF;"| not awarded

1

| Eddy Merckx

|style="background:pink;" rowspan="2"| Eddy Merckx

|style="background:salmon;" rowspan="3"| Eddy Merckx

|style="background:lightyellow;" rowspan="22"| Faema

2

| Eddy Merckx{{refn|name=Motta|group=N}}

|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="3"| Julio Jiménez

3

| Guido Reybrouck

|style="background:pink;" rowspan="9"| Michele Dancelli

4

| Ward Sels

|style="background:salmon;" rowspan="2"| Guido Reybrouck

5

| Italo Zilioli

|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="2"| Julio Jiménez & Eddy Merckx

6

| José Antonio Momeñe

|style="background:salmon;" rowspan="17"| Eddy Merckx

7

| Guerrino Tosello

|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="2"| Mariano Díaz

8

| Eddy Merckx

9

| Julio Jiménez

|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="3"| Julio Jiménez

10

| Emilio Casalini

11

| Guido Reybrouck

12

| Eddy Merckx

|style="background:pink;" rowspan="11"| Eddy Merckx

|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="11"|Eddy Merckx

13

| Lino Farisato

14

| Luigi Sgarbozza

15

| Marino Basso

16

| Felice Gimondi

17

| Franco Bitossi

18

| Julio Jiménez

19

| Luciano Dalla Bona

20

| Luis Pedro Santamarina

21

| Franco Bitossi{{refn|name=Bodrero|group=N}}

22

| Guido Reybrouck

colspan=2| Final

! style="background:#F660AB;"| Eddy Merckx

! style="background:red;"|Eddy Merckx

! style="background:#32CD32;"|Eddy Merckx

! style="background:yellow;"| Faema

Final standings

class="wikitable"
colspan=4| Legend
  File:Jersey pink.svg  

| Denotes the winner of the General classification

|   File:Jersey red.svg  

| Denotes the winner of the Points classification

=General classification=

class="wikitable" style="width:45em;margin-bottom:0;"

|+ Final general classification (1–10){{cite news |url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/13/MD19680613-018.pdf |title=Clasificaciones |language=es |date=13 June 1968 |page=18 |newspaper=El Mundo Deportivo|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo S.A.|access-date=21 April 2013|trans-title=Classifications|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150312212240/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1968/06/13/MD19680613-018.pdf|archive-date=12 March 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=/archivio/uni_1968_06/19680613_0006.pdf |title=Adorni punito per aver ingannato l'antidoping? |language=it |date=12 June 1968 |page=6 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=27 May 2012 |trans-title=Adorni punished for having deceived the doping? |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228022542/http://archiviostorico.unita.it/cgi-bin/highlightPdf.cgi?t=ebook&file=%2Farchivio%2Funi_1968_06%2F19680613_0006.pdf |archive-date=2014-12-28 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1#page/6/mode/1up|title=Il Giro in cifre|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=12 June 1968|page=6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Tour in figures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223155831/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}}

Rank

!Name

!Team

!Time

style="text-align:center"| 1

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} File:Jersey pink.svg File:Jersey red.svg

| Faema

|align="right"| {{nowrap|108h 42' 27"}}

style="text-align:center"| 2

| {{flagathlete|Vittorio Adorni|ITA}}

| Faema

|align="right"| + 5' 01"

style="text-align:center"| 3

| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}}

| Salvarani

|align="right"| + 9' 05"

style="text-align:center"| 4

| {{flagathlete|Italo Zilioli|ITA}}

| Filotex

|align="right"| + 9' 17"

style="text-align:center"| 5

| {{flagathlete|Willy Van Neste|BEL}}

| Bic

|align="right"| + 10' 43"

style="text-align:center"| DSQ

| {{flagathlete|Gianni Motta|ITA}}{{refn|name=Motta|group=N}}

| Molteni

|align="right"| + 12' 23"

style="text-align:center"| 6

| {{flagathlete|Michele Dancelli|ITA}}

| Pepsi Cola

|align="right"| + 12' 33"

style="text-align:center"| 7

| {{flagathlete|Franco Balmamion|ITA}}

| Molteni

|align="right"| + 15' 43"

style="text-align:center"| 8

| {{flagathlete|Francisco Gabica|ESP|1945}}

| Fagor

|align="right"| + 16' 59"

style="text-align:center"| 9

| {{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}

| Filotex

|align="right"| + 19' 02"

style="text-align:center"| 10

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

| Bic

|align="right"| + 19' 51"

{{columns-start}}

=Points classification=

class="wikitable"

|+ Final points classification (1–5)

!Name

!Team

!Points

style="text-align:center"| 1

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} File:Jersey red.svg File:Jersey pink.svg

| Faema

|style="text-align:center"| 198

style="text-align:center"| 2

| {{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}

| Filotex

|style="text-align:center"| 138

style="text-align:center"| 3

| {{flagathlete|Michele Dancelli|ITA}}

| Pepsi Cola

|style="text-align:center"| 132

style="text-align:center"| DSQ

| {{flagathlete|Gianni Motta|ITA}}{{refn|name=Motta|group=N}}

| Molteni

|style="text-align:center"| 122

style="text-align:center"| 4

| {{flagathlete|Marino Basso|ITA}}

| Molteni

|style="text-align:center"| 122

style="text-align:center"| 5

| {{flagathlete|Guido Reybrouck|BEL}}

| Faema

|style="text-align:center"| 115

style="text-align:center"| 6

| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}}

| Salvarani

|style="text-align:center"| 96

style="text-align:center"| 7

| {{flagathlete|Vittorio Adorni|ITA}}

| Faema

|style="text-align:center"| 88

style="text-align:center"| 8

| {{flagathlete|Italo Zilioli|ITA}}

| Filotex

|style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"| 73

style="text-align:center"| 9

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

| Bic

style="text-align:center"| 10

| {{flagathlete|Vito Taccone|ITA}}

| Germanvox

|style="text-align:center"| 60

{{column}}

=Mountains classification=

class="wikitable"

|+ Final mountains classification (1–6){{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13541&p=1#page/8/mode/1up|title=Il Giro in cifre|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=11 June 1968|page=8|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=The Tour in figures|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228023144/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13541&p=1|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=live}}

!Name

!Team

!Points

style="text-align:center"| 1

| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} File:Jersey pink.svg File:Jersey red.svg

| Faema

|style="text-align:center"| 340

style="text-align:center"| DSQ

| {{flagathlete|Mariano Díaz|ESP|1945}}

| Fagor

|style="text-align:center"| 210

style="text-align:center"| 3

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

| Bic

|style="text-align:center"| 180

style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"| 4

| {{flagathlete|Giancarlo Polidori|ITA}}

| Pepsi Cola

|style="text-align:center" rowspan="2"| 140

{{flagathlete|Joaquín Galera|ESP|1945}}

| Fagor

style="text-align:center"| 6

| {{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}

| Filotex

|style="text-align:center"| 90

{{columns-end}}

{{columns-start}}

=Traguardi a sorpresa classification=

class="wikitable"

|+ Final traguardia a sorpresa classification (1–10){{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1#page/6/mode/1up|title=TV a Sorpresa|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=12 June 1968|page=6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Surprise TV|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223155831/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}}

!Name

!Team

!Points

style="text-align:center"| 1

| {{flagathlete|Marino Basso|ITA}}

| Molteni

|style="text-align:center"| 22

style="text-align:center"| 2

| {{flagathlete|Roberto Ballini|ITA}}

| Max Meyer

|style="text-align:center"| 15

style="text-align:center"| 3

| {{flagathlete|Pietro Campagnari|ITA}}

| Molteni

|style="text-align:center"| 14

style="text-align:center"| 4

| {{flagathlete|Luciano Armani|ITA}}

| Faema

|style="text-align:center"| 13

style="text-align:center"| 5

| {{flagathlete|Giancarlo Polidori|ITA}}

| Pepsi Cola

|style="text-align:center"| 10

style="text-align:center" rowspan =3| 6

| {{flagathlete|Julio Jiménez|ESP|1945}}

| Bic

|style="text-align:center" rowspan=3| 8

{{flagathlete|Luis Santamarina|ESP|1945}}

| Fagor

{{flagathlete|Franco Bitossi|ITA}}

| Filotex

style="text-align:center"| 9

| {{flagathlete|Giuseppe Milioli|ITA}}

| Germanvox-Vega

|style="text-align:center"| 6

style="text-align:center" rowspan=8| 10

| {{flagathlete|Italo Zilioli|ITA}}

| Filotex

|style="text-align:center" rowspan=8| 5

{{flagathlete|Rem Stefanoni|ITA}}

| Max Meyer

{{flagathlete|Mariano Díaz|ESP|1945}}

| Fagor

{{flagathlete|Lino Farisato|ITA}}

| Faema

{{flagathlete|Raymond Delisle|FRA}}

|

{{flagathlete|Claudio Michelotto|ITA}}

| Max Meyer

{{flagathlete|Daminiano Capodivento|ITA}}

| G.B.C.

{{flagathlete|Georges Vandenberghe|BEL}}

| Smith's

{{column}}

=Team classification=

class="wikitable"

|+ Final team classification (1–10)

!Team

!Points

style="text-align:center"| 1

| Faema

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 2

| Molteni

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 3

| Fagor-Fargas

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 4

| Pepsi Cola

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 5

| Filotex

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 6

| Bic

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 7

| Salvarani

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 8

| Max Meyer

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 9

| Germanvox-Vega

|align="right"| ?

style="text-align:center"| 10

| Smith's

|align="right"| ?

{{columns-end}}

=Minor classifications=

Franco Bitossi (Filotex) won the traguardi tricolori classification and Merckx won the Trofeo dei Circuiti.{{cite web|url=http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1#page/6/mode/1up|title=Quattro vittorie per Merckx|newspaper=Corriere dello Sport|date=12 June 1968|page=6|access-date=7 July 2013|language=it|trans-title=Four Victories for Merckx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223155831/http://dlib.coninet.it/bookreader.php?&c=1&f=13542&p=1|archive-date=23 December 2014|url-status=live}}

References

=Footnotes=

{{reflist|group=N}}

=Citations=

{{reflist}}

=Bibliography=

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |last1=Foot |first1=John |title=Pedalare! Pedalare! |chapter=The Heroic Age |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2011 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eGBRfzR_onUC |isbn=978-1-4088-1755-1 }}
  • {{cite book |last1=Fotheringham |first1=William |title=Half Man, Half Bike: The Life of Eddy Merckx, Cycling's Greatest Champion |publisher=Chicago Review Press |location= Chicago, Illinois|year=2013 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nrQBk6ZTv8YC |isbn=978-1-6137-4726-1 }}

{{Refend}}

{{commons category}}

{{1968 Super Prestige Pernod}}

{{Giro d'Italia}}

{{Giro d'Italia general classification winners}}

1968

Giro d'Italia

Giro d'Italia

Giro d'Italia

Giro d'Italia

Category:1968 Super Prestige Pernod