1973 Giro d'Italia
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox cycling race report
| name = 1973 Giro d'Italia
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| image_alt =
| date = 18 May – 9 June 1973
| stages = 20 + Prologue
| distance = 3801
| unit = km
| time = 106h 54' 41"
| speed = 35.506
| first = Eddy Merckx
| first_nat = BEL
| first_team = Molteni
| first_color = pink
| second = Felice Gimondi
| second_nat = ITA
| second_team = Bianchi
| third = Giovanni Battaglin
| third_nat = ITA
| third_team = Jolly Ceramica
| points = Eddy Merckx
| points_nat = BEL
| points_team = Molteni
| points_color = violet
| mountains = José Manuel Fuente
| mountains_nat = ESP
| mountains_natvar = 1945
| mountains_team = KAS
| mountains_color = green
| combination = Eddy Merckx
| combination_nat = BEL
| combination_team = Molteni
| combination_color =
| sprints = Domingo Perurena
| sprints_nat = ESP
| sprints_natvar = 1945
| sprints_team = KAS
| team =
| teampoints = Molteni
| previous = 1972
| next = 1974
}}
The 1973 Giro d'Italia was the 56th running of the Giro, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started in Verviers, Belgium, on 18 May, with a {{convert|5.2|km|abbr=on}} prologue and concluded with a {{convert|197|km|abbr=on}} mass-start stage, on 9 June. A total of 140 riders from fourteen teams entered the 20-stage race, that was won by Belgian Eddy Merckx of the Molteni team. The second and third places were taken by Italians Felice Gimondi and Giovanni Battaglin, respectively.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1973/06/10/MD19730610-019.pdf|title=Merckx, <
In addition to the general classification, Merckx won the points classification (taking six stages). Amongst the other classifications that the race awarded, José Manuel Fuente of KAS won the mountains classification. Molteni finished as the winners of the team points classification.
Teams
{{main list|List of teams and cyclists in the 1973 Giro d'Italia}}
A total of fourteen teams were invited to participate in the 1973 Giro d'Italia.{{cite news|title=Merckx ook favoriet in Ronde van Italie|trans-title=Merckx also Favorite in Tour of Italy|language=nl|via=Delpher|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=KBPERS01:003357016:mpeg21:p00027|work=Tubantia|date=18 May 1973|page=27}} Each team sent a squad of ten riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 140 cyclists. From the riders that began this edition, 113 made it to the finish on the Trieste.{{cite web|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1973.html |title=1973 Giro d'Italia |work= Bike Race Info |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing |author=Bill and Carol McGann|access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102081424/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1973.html|archive-date=2 January 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/105880/files/1973-05-18.pdf|title=Merckx et une très forte équipe contre tous!|trans-title=Merckx and a very strong team against all!|language=fr|newspaper=L'Impartial|date=18 May 1973|page=14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022030223/http://doc.rero.ch/record/105880/files/1973-05-18.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2019|via=RERO}}
The teams entering the race were:
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Pre-race favorites
Reigning and three-time champion Eddy Merckx (Molteni) announced he would race both the Vuelta a España and Giro.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/03/06/page_010.pdf|title=Così il Giro d'Italia 1973|language=it |date=6 March 1971 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|author=Gino Sala|format=PDF |trans-title=Thus the Giro d'Italia 1973|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190429005858/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/03/06/page_010.pdf|archive-date=29 April 2019 }} The break between these two races was only five days.{{cite web|url=http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1973.html |title=1973 Giro d'Italia |work= Bike Race Info |publisher=Dog Ear Publishing |author=Bill and Carol McGann|access-date=6 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150102081424/http://bikeraceinfo.com/giro/giro1973.html|archive-date=2 January 2015|url-status=live}} Despite this, and coming off a victory at the Vuelta, Merckx entered the race favorite.{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1973/05/18/MD19730518-021.pdf|title=Salvo accidentes, ya conocemos el nombre del vencedor|language=es|date=18 May 1973|page=21|publisher=El Mundo Deportivo|author=Juan Del Bosque|access-date=27 May 2012|trans-title=Except for accidents, we already know the name of the winner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604155839/http://hemeroteca-paginas.mundodeportivo.com/EMD01/HEM/1973/05/18/MD19730518-021.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2020|url-status=live}} Juan Del Bosque of El Mundo Deportivo stated that with the easy route, it won't make Merckx exert much effort to win for a fourth time. Merckx was believed to have a very strong team supporting him at the race, including the likes of Roger Swerts, Victor Van Schil, and Jos Deschoenmaecker, among others.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/18/page_010.pdf|title=Comincia il 56 Giro d'Italia: oggi il <
|title=Il Pronostico Dice Merckx La Quarta Volta|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=7 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=The Prediction Says Merckx The Fourth Time
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162221/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_007.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_008.pdf
|trans-title=Here are their signed predictions|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=8 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |title=Ecco I Loro Pronostici Firmati|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162246/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_008.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_010.pdf
|title=Eddy Merckx non aspetterà le Dolomiti|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=Eddy Merckx will not wait for the Dolomites|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162253/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_010.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_011.pdf
|title=Un Percorso Per Boifava|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=11 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=A Course for Boifava|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162410/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_011.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_012.pdf
|title=Roger De Vlaeminck propone un nuovo e affaccinante tema|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=12 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=Roger De Vlaeminck proposes a new and fascinating theme
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162413/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_012.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_013.pdf
|title=L'estroso Bitossi e due speranze che si chiamano Riccomi e Osler|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=13 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=The whimsical Bitossi and two hopes called Riccomi and Osler|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162417/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_013.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_014.pdf
|title=L'orgoglio e le doti di Gimondi piu Basso, Ritter e Rodriguez...|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=14 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=The pride and skills of Gimondi Basso, Ritter and Rodriguez ...|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162420/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_014.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_015.pdf
|title=Francesco Moser a briglie sciolte per la grande avventura|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=15 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=Francesco Moser at full speed for the great adventure
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162433/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_015.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_016.pdf
|title=Gosta Pettersson nel pronostico per la maglia rosa|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=16 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=Gosta Pettersson in the prediction for the pink jersey|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604162528/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_016.pdf
|archive-date=4 June 2020}}
Felice Gimondi (Bianchi), who won the race in 1967 and 1969, was not viewed to be in good condition entering the race. Despite this he was still viewed as a contender for the overall crown. Molteni director Giorgio Albani felt Merckx's strongest competitor would be Gimondi. Albani elaborated that the Spaniards José Manuel Fuente, Francisco Galdós, and Santiago Lazcano were all dangerous riders in the mountains, but not threats for the overall crown. The KAS team was regarded as a strong opponent to the Molteni squad because of their climbing prowess. Specifically, the writer felt Fuente had performed very little during the 1973 campaign. One writer found Roger De Vlaeminck (Brooklyn) to be a dark horse for the general classification, while another source felt he would be Merckx's biggest threat. Fuente ordered a bike from Faliero Maso (who made bikes for Fausto Coppi) which was said to be a very light bike which should give him more stability.{{cite news|title=De vraag luidt: Wie kan Merckx in Du Giro verslaan?|author=Nino Tamadesso|trans-title=The Question is: Who Can Beat Merckx in the Giro|language=nl|via=Delpher|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010561050:mpeg21:p019|work=Limburgs Dagblad|date=18 May 1973|page=1}} Former winner Gianni Motta (Zonca) also competed in the race and was viewed as a capable rider, but noted that his performances were irregular and his season had been lackluster up to that point. 1971 winner Gösta Pettersson (Ferretti), was viewed as a challenger for the general classification, but one writer felt he lost his "punch." Italo Zilioli (Dreher), Franco Bitossi (Sammontana), and Michele Dancelli (Scic) were other Italian riders that had chances to place high in the general classification.
Marino Basso (Bianchi), Gerben Karstens (Ovest Rokado), Rik Van Linden (Ovest Rokado), Patrick Sercu (Brooklyn), and Bitossi were thought to be the riders that would contend for the stages that finished in bunch sprints. Van Linden and Sercu had beaten the reigning world champion Basso several times during the season so far and one writer stated that he "will have a lot to do if he wants to be worthy of his rainbow jersey."
French filmmaker Claude Lelouch announced he would be making a film that centered around Merckx, which would incorporate footage from the Vuelta a España earlier in the year, along with this Giro d'Italia.{{cite news|title=Film Over Eddie Merckx|trans-title=Move About Eddy Merckx|language=nl|via=Delpher|url=https://resolver.kb.nl/resolve?urn=ddd:010958114:mpeg21:p023|work=Het Vrije Volk|date=18 May 1973|page=23}}
Route and stages
Prior to 1973, there were rumors that the race would be starting in Belgium. Race director Vincenzo Torriani revealed the race route on 5 March 1973. The route was announced to be {{convert|3777|km|abbr=on}} over the course of twenty stages that included one individual time trial, while it began with a prologue around Verviers, Wallonia. The race was regarded to have six flat stages and eight "wavy" stages.{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_009.pdf|title=Il Giro di ieri e di Oggi|language=it |date=16 May 1973 |page=10 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|format=PDF |trans-title=The Tour of Yesterday and Today|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604155839/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/16/page_009.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2020}} There were eleven stages containing twenty categorized climbs that awarded points for the mountains classification, with no summit finishes in the race. In total, the race climbed {{convert|22.3|km|abbr=on}}, {{convert|2.4|km|abbr=on}} less than the previous year. The average length of each stage was {{convert|188.85|km|abbr=on}}. The route did feature two rest days, on 23 May in Aosta and 4 June in Forte dei Marmi. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was {{convert|52|km|0|abbr=on}} longer, included a prologue, two less individual time trails, four less summit finishes, and had the same number of rest days.
The route was announced to start in Verviers, before heading towards Italy, passing through The Netherlands, West Germany, Luxembourg, France, and Switzerland. It was branded the "Tour of Europe." It was reported that roughly 50 million liras were paid to the Giro d'Italia from Verviers, Cologne, and the European Economic Community. The transfer from Strasbourg to Geneva was over {{convert|400|km|abbr=on}}. The route notably finished in Trieste, rather than in Milan, the normal finish for the race.{{cite news|url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/105880/files/1973-05-18.pdf|title=Le premier des "gros morceaux " !|trans-title=The first of the "big pieces"!|language=fr|author=Squibbs|newspaper=L'Impartial|date=18 May 1973|page=25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022030223/http://doc.rero.ch/record/105880/files/1973-05-18.pdf|archive-date=22 October 2019|via=RERO}} In addition, the route did not visit the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily, to which Squibbs from L'Impartial stated that "no one will complain" with regards to Sardinia, while Sicily he felt made the tifosi in various areas of the region "scream." The route as a whole does not venture into the southern half of Italy. It was believed to be that the reason for the avoidance of Milan and other larger cities in the 1973 route came from their large unruly crowds and recent social unrest. The Dolomites were featured in the last two stages of the race.
Upon release of the route in March, some thought it was not a difficult route and Torriani did not want to give Merckx an advantage. Gino Sala of l'Unita wrote following the route's initial reveal that Torriani may throw in some obstacles before the race started that were not in the presented route in March. With the announcement of the route that traveled through so many European nations, Sala speculated that Tour de France organizer Félix Lévitan would try to one-up the Giro for their 1974 race. Squibbs felt the route was well balanced and intelligently designed and thought the harder portions reserved for the very end would make the race garner more interest.
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!Stage !Date !Course !Distance !colspan="2"|Type !Winner |
| style="text-align:center"| P
| style="text-align:center;"| 18 May | Verviers (Belgium) | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|5.2|km|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| File:Time Trial.svg | Two-man Team Time Trial{{refn|name=Twoman|group=N|The prologue for the 1973 Giro d'Italia was not a typical prologue as it was a two-man team time trial, not the normal individual time trial. The results from the stage did not count towards the general classification, but were used to determine the first wearers of the maglia rosa ({{langx|en|pink jersey}}) and maglia ciclamino ({{langx|en|mauve, or purple, jersey}}).{{cite news |url=https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/19/page_012.pdf|title=Eddy Parte In Rosa|language=it |date=19 May 1973 |page=12 |newspaper=l'Unità |publisher=PCI |access-date=22 June 2018|author=Gino Sala|format=PDF |trans-title=Eddy Starts in Pink|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604154309/https://archivio.unita.news/assets/main/1973/05/19/page_012.pdf|archive-date=4 June 2020}} The rider with the quickest time of the two would wear the pink jersey, while the second placed rider wore the purple jersey. Merckx finished the fastest, which allowed him to wear the pink jersey the following day, while Swerts earned the purple jersey.}} | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
|---|
| style="text-align:center"| 1
| style="text-align:center;" |19 May | Verviers (Belgium) to Cologne (West Germany) | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|137|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 2
| style="text-align:center;"| 20 May | Cologne (West Germany) to Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|227|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Roger De Vlaeminck|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 3
| style="text-align:center;"| 21 May | Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) to Strasbourg (France) | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|239|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Gustave Van Roosbroeck|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 4
| style="text-align:center;"| 22 May | Geneva (Switzerland) to Aosta | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|163|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
| |align="center"| 23 May
|colspan="6" align=center| Rest day |
| style="text-align:center"| 5
| style="text-align:center;"| 24 May | St. Vincent to Milan | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|173|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Gerben Karstens|NED}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 6
| style="text-align:center;"| 25 May | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|144|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Gianni Motta|ITA}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 7
| style="text-align:center;"| 26 May | Iseo to {{ill|Lido delle Nazioni|it}} | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|248|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Rik Van Linden|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 8
| style="text-align:center;"| 27 May | Lido delle Nazioni to Monte Carpegna | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|156|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 9
| style="text-align:center;"| 28 May | Carpegna to Alba Adriatica | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|243|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Patrick Sercu|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 10
| style="text-align:center;"| 29 May | Alba Adriatica to Lanciano | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|174|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 11
| style="text-align:center;"| 30 May | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|230|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Roger De Vlaeminck|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 12
| style="text-align:center;"| 31 May | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|236|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Tullio Rossi|ITA}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 13
| style="text-align:center;"| 1 June | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|215|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Roger De Vlaeminck|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 14
| style="text-align:center;"| 2 June | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|202|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Francesco Moser|ITA}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 15
| style="text-align:center;"| 3 June | Florence to Forte dei Marmi | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|150|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Plainstage.svg |Plain stage | {{flagathlete|Martín Emilio Rodríguez|COL}} |
| |align="center"| 4 June
|colspan="6" align=center| Rest day |
| style="text-align:center"| 16
| style="text-align:center;"| 5 June | Forte dei Marmi to Forte dei Marmi | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|37|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;"| 6 June | Forte dei Marmi to Verona | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|244|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Rik Van Linden|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 18
| style="text-align:center;"| 7 June | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|173|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 19
| style="text-align:center;"| 8 June | Andalo to Auronzo di Cadore | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|208|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|José Manuel Fuente|ESP|1945}} |
| style="text-align:center"| 20
| style="text-align:center;"| 9 June | Auronzo di Cadore to Trieste | style="text-align:center;"| {{convert|197|km|0|abbr=on}} | style="text-align:center;"| Image:Mountainstage.svg |Stage with mountain(s) | {{flagathlete|Marino Basso|ITA}} |
| |colspan="2" align=center| Total
|colspan="5" align="center"| {{convert|3801|km|0|abbr=on}} |
Classification leadership
File:Passo di Giau.jpg was the Cima Coppi for the 1973 running of the Giro d'Italia.]]
There were three main individual classifications contested in the 1973 Giro d'Italia, as well as a team competition. Three of them awarded jerseys to their leaders. The general classification was the most important and was calculated by adding each rider's finishing times on each stage.{{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 |website=Cycling News|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 }} The rider with the lowest cumulative time was the winner of the general classification and was considered the overall winner of the Giro. The rider leading the classification wore a pink jersey to signify the classification's leadership.
The second classification was the points classification. Riders received points for finishing in the top positions in a stage finish, with first place getting the most points, and lower placings getting successively fewer points. The rider leading this classification wore a purple (or cyclamen) jersey. The mountains classification was the third classification and its leader was designated by a green jersey. In this ranking, points were won by reaching the summit of a climb ahead of other cyclists. Each climb was ranked as either first, second or third category, with more points available for higher category climbs. Most stages of the race included one or more categorized climbs, in which points were awarded to the riders that reached the summit first. The Cima Coppi, the race's highest point of elevation, awarded more points than the other first category climbs. The Cima Coppi for this Giro was the Passo di Giau. The first rider to cross the Passo di Giau was Spanish rider José Manuel Fuente.
The final classification, the team classification, awarded no jersey to its leaders. This was calculated by adding together points earned by each rider on the team during each stage through the intermediate sprints, the categorized climbs, stage finishes, etc. The team with the most points led the classification.
There were other minor classifications within the race, including the neo-professional competition. The classification was determined in the same way as the general classification, but considering only neo-professional cyclists (in their first three years of professional racing). The combination classification was a points classification that was tabulated by adding the ranks of a riders position in the general, points, and mountains classifications.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; font-size:smaller;"
|+Classification leadership by stage |
| style="background:#efefef;"
! style="width:1%;"| Stage ! style="width:15%;"| Winner ! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|General classification ! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Points classification ! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Mountains classification ! style="background:#efefef; width:14%;"|Team classification |
| P
|style="background:pink;| (Eddy Merckx){{refn|name=Twoman|group=N}} | style="background:violet;" | (Roger Swerts){{refn|name=Twoman|group=N}} |style="background:#EFEFEF;" rowspan="4"| not awarded |style="background:#EFEFEF;" rowspan="1"| not awarded |
|---|
| 1
|style="background:pink;" rowspan="20"| Eddy Merckx | style="background:violet;" rowspan="14" |Eddy Merckx | rowspan="20" style="background:lightyellow;" | ? |
| 2 |
| 3 |
| 4
|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="2"| José Manuel Fuente |
| 5 |
| 6
|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="13"| Eddy Merckx |
| 7 |
| 8 |
| 9 |
| 10 |
| 11 |
| 12 |
| 13 |
| 14 |
| 15
| style="background:violet;" rowspan="3" |Roger De Vlaeminck |
| 16 |
| 17 |
| 18
| style="background:violet;" rowspan="3" |Eddy Merckx |
| 19
|style="background:lightgreen;" rowspan="2"| José Manuel Fuente |
| 20 |
| colspan=2| Final
! style="background:#F660AB;"| Eddy Merckx ! style="background:#c0f;"| Eddy Merckx ! style="background:#32CD32;"| José Manuel Fuente ! style="background:yellow;"| Molteni |
Final standings
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan=4| Legend |
|---|
| Image:Jersey pink.svg
| Denotes the winner of the General classification | Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification |
| Image:Jersey violet.svg
| Denotes the winner of the Points classification |
=General classification=
{{columns-start}}
=Points classification=
| class="wikitable"
|+Final points classification (1–5) ! !Rider !Team !Points |
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} Image:Jersey violet.svg Image:Jersey pink.svg | Molteni | align=right| 237 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Roger De Vlaeminck|BEL}} | Brooklyn | align=right| 216 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}} | Bianchi | align=right| 146 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Rik Van Linden|BEL}} | Ovest Rokado | align=right| 141 |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Gerben Karstens|NED}} | Ovest Rokado | align=right| 132 |
{{column}}
=Mountains classification=
| class="wikitable"
|+Final mountains classification (1–10) ! !Rider !Team !Points |
| 1
| {{flagathlete|José Manuel Fuente|ESP|1945}} Image:Jersey green.svg | KAS | align=right| 550 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} Image:Jersey pink.svg Image:Jersey violet.svg | Molteni | align=right| 510 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Giovanni Battaglin|ITA}} | align=right| 180 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}} | Bianchi | align=right| 110 |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Lino Farisato|ITA}} | Scic | align=right| 100 |
| rowspan="2"| 6
| {{flagathlete|Wladimiro Panizza|ITA}} | G.B.C. | align=right rowspan="2"| 70 |
| {{flagathlete|Ole Ritter|DEN}}
| Bianchi |
| rowspan="3"|8
| {{flagathlete|Italo Zilioli|ITA}} | Dreher | align=right rowspan="3"| 30 |
| {{flagathlete|Ottavio Crepaldi|ITA}}
| Zonca |
| {{flagathlete|Santiago Lazcano|ESP|1945}}
| KAS |
{{columns-end}}
{{columns-start}}
=Combination classification=
| class="wikitable"
|+Final combination classification (1–4) ! !Rider !Team !Points |
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Eddy Merckx|BEL}} Image:Jersey pink.svg Image:Jersey violet.svg | Molteni | align=right| 4 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Felice Gimondi|ITA}} | Bianchi | align=right| 9 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Giovanni Battaglin|ITA}} | Jollj Ceramica | align=right| 17 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|José Manuel Fuente|ESP|1945}} Image:Jersey green.svg | KAS | align=right| 18 |
{{column}}
=Intermediate sprints classification=
| class="wikitable"
|+Final intermediate sprints classification (1–5) ! !Rider !Team !Points |
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Domingo Perurena|ESP|1945}} | KAS | align=right| 170 |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Ercole Gualazzini|ITA}} | Bianchi | align=right| 110 |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Gianni Motta|ITA}} | Zonca | align=right| 70 |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Joseph Bruyère|BEL}} | Molteni | align=right| 60 |
| rowspan="2"| 5
| {{flagathlete|Enrico Paolini|ITA}} | Scic | align=right rowspan="2"| 40 |
| {{flagathlete|Piero Dallai|ITA}}
| Magniflex |
{{columns-end}}
{{columns-start}}
=Neo-professional classification=
| class="wikitable" |
| !Rider
!Team !Time |
|---|
| 1
| {{flagathlete|Giovanni Battaglin|ITA}} | Jollj Ceramica | align=right| {{nowrap|107h 05' 01"}} |
| 2
| {{flagathlete|Francesco Moser|ITA}} | Filotex | align=right| + 28' 22" |
| 3
| {{flagathlete|Hennie Kuiper|NED}} | Rokado | align=right| + 28' 30" |
| 4
| {{flagathlete|Walter Riccomi|ITA}} | Sammontana | align=right| + 1h 01' 34" |
| 5
| {{flagathlete|Luciano Conati|ITA}} | Scic | align=right| + 1h 06' 27" |
{{column}}
=Team classification=
Aftermath
The race is documented in Jørgen Leth's 1974 film Stars and Watercarriers (Stjernerne og Vandbærerne).
References
=Footnotes=
{{reflist|group=N}}
=Citations=
{{reflist|30em}}
{{1973 Super Prestige Pernod}}
{{Giro d'Italia}}
{{Cycling stage recaps|1973 Giro d'Italia|P|10|11|20}}
{{Giro d'Italia general classification winners}}