
1909 Giro d'Italia
    
    Encyclopedia
    
        The 1909 Giro d'Italia
of cycling
was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport
(in competition with rival Corriere della Sera
). The race started in Milan
on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages. To date this is the shortest edition of the Giro d'Italia.
Luigi Ganna
won the race, 2 points ahead of Carlo Galetti
, and received a prize of 5,325 lire
. Eugenio Costamagna, director of La Gazzetta dello Sport, earned 150 lire.
There were 127 participants, all Italians with the exception of four French cyclists. Only 49 arrived at the final goal. The first race caravan contained 8 cars: 4 for the teams, 2 for the race officials and 2 for the promoter.
had between 1905 and 1912. This resulted in Luigi Ganna
being the winner. Remarkably, had a time system such as currently is in use been the method determining the winner, Ganna would have lost by nearly 37 minutes to Giovanni Rossignoli
, in third place.
> Bologna
, 397km
> Chieti
, 378.5km
> Naples
, 242.8km
> Rome
, 228.1km
> Florence
, 346.5km
> Genova
, 294.1km
> Turin
, 354.9km
> Milan
, 206km
        
    
Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia , also simply known as The Giro, is a long distance road bicycle racing stage race for professional cyclists held over three weeks in May/early June in and around Italy. The Giro is one of the three Grand Tours , and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar...
of cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
was the first ever Giro, organised by La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport
La Gazzetta dello Sport is an Italian newspaper dedicated to coverage of various sports. It was first published on April 3, 1896, allowing it to cover the first modern Olympic Games held in Athens...
(in competition with rival Corriere della Sera
Corriere della Sera
The Corriere della Sera is an Italian daily newspaper, published in Milan.It is among the oldest and most reputable Italian newspapers. Its main rivals are Rome's La Repubblica and Turin's La Stampa.- History :...
). The race started in Milan
Milan
Milan  is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
on 13 May 1909, and finished in the same city on 30 May, after 8 stages. To date this is the shortest edition of the Giro d'Italia.
Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy....
won the race, 2 points ahead of Carlo Galetti
Carlo Galetti
Carlo Galetti  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.He was born at Corsico. The highlight of his career was his three consecutive overall wins in the 1910, 1911 and 1912 Giro d'Italias, the last of which was won as part of Team Atala along with Giovanni Micheletto and Eberardo Pavesi.He...
, and received a prize of 5,325 lire
Italian lira
The lira  was the currency of Italy between 1861 and 2002. Between 1999 and 2002, the Italian lira was officially a “national subunit” of the euro...
. Eugenio Costamagna, director of La Gazzetta dello Sport, earned 150 lire.
There were 127 participants, all Italians with the exception of four French cyclists. Only 49 arrived at the final goal. The first race caravan contained 8 cars: 4 for the teams, 2 for the race officials and 2 for the promoter.
Race information
The first-ever Giro d'Italia used a points system to determine its winner, just as the Tour de FranceTour de France
The Tour de France  is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than  and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
had between 1905 and 1912. This resulted in Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna
Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy....
being the winner. Remarkably, had a time system such as currently is in use been the method determining the winner, Ganna would have lost by nearly 37 minutes to Giovanni Rossignoli
Giovanni Rossignoli
Giovanni Rossignoli  was an Italian professional road bicycle racer who won 3 Giro d'Italia stages during his career.-Palmares:190319051906190719081909...
, in third place.
Stages
| Stage | Route | Distance | Winner | General classification General Classification The general classification  in bicycle racing is the category that tracks overall times for bicycle riders in multi-stage bicycle races... leader | 
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Milan Milan Milan  is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... to Bologna Bologna Bologna  is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy.  The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... | 397 km (246.7 mi) | Dario Beni | Dario Beni | 
| 2 | Bologna Bologna Bologna  is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy.  The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,... to Chieti Chieti Chieti  is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region... | 378 km (234.9 mi) | Giovanni Cuniolo | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | 
| 3 | Chieti Chieti Chieti  is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region... to Naples Naples Naples  is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples... | 242 km (150.4 mi) | Giovanni Rossignoli Giovanni Rossignoli Giovanni Rossignoli  was an Italian professional road bicycle racer who won 3 Giro d'Italia stages during his career.-Palmares:190319051906190719081909... | Carlo Galetti Carlo Galetti Carlo Galetti  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist.He was born at Corsico. The highlight of his career was his three consecutive overall wins in the 1910, 1911 and 1912 Giro d'Italias, the last of which was won as part of Team Atala along with Giovanni Micheletto and Eberardo Pavesi.He... | 
| 4 | Naples Naples Naples  is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples... to Rome Rome Rome  is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half... | 228 km (141.7 mi) | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | 
| 5 | Rome Rome Rome  is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half... to Florence Florence Florence  is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... | 346 km (215 mi) | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | |
| 6 | Florence Florence Florence  is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area.... to Genoa Genoa Genoa  |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... | 294 km (182.7 mi) | Giovanni Rossignoli Giovanni Rossignoli Giovanni Rossignoli  was an Italian professional road bicycle racer who won 3 Giro d'Italia stages during his career.-Palmares:190319051906190719081909... | |
| 7 | Genoa Genoa Genoa  |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria.... to Turin Turin Turin  is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193  while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... | 354 km (220 mi) | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | |
| 8 | Turin Turin Turin  is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193  while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat... to Milan Milan Milan  is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,... | 206 km (128 mi) | Dario Beni | |
| Final | 2,445 km | Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna Luigi Ganna  was an Italian professional road racing cyclist. The highlight of his career was his overall win in the first Giro d'Italia, held in 1909.He was born in Induno Olona, near Varese, in Lombardy.... | ||
Stage 1
May 13, MilanMilan
Milan  is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
> Bologna
Bologna
Bologna  is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy.  The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, 397km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bianchi | 14h 06' 15" | |
| 2 | Peugeot | s.t. | |
| 3 | Legnano | s.t. | 
Stage 2
May 16, BolognaBologna
Bologna  is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy.  The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
> Chieti
Chieti
Chieti  is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region...
, 378.5km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rudge Whitworth | 14h 12' 14" | |
| 2 | Atala | s.t. | |
| 3 | Stucchi | s.t. | 
Stage 3
May 18, ChietiChieti
Chieti  is a city and comune in Central Italy, 200 km northeast of Rome. It is the capital of the Province of Chieti in the Abruzzo region...
> Naples
Naples
Naples  is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, 242.8km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legnano | 9h 28' 40" | |
| 2 | Legnano | s.t. | |
| 3 | Legnano | s.t. | 
Stage 4
May 20, NaplesNaples
Naples  is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
> Rome
Rome
Rome  is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, 228.1km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atala | 8h 31' 56" | |
| 2 | Stucchi-Pirelli | s.t. | |
| 3 | Legnano | + 4' 54" | 
Stage 5
May 23, RomeRome
Rome  is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
> Florence
Florence
Florence  is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, 346.5km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atala | 12h 51' 45" | |
| 2 | Legnano | s.t. | |
| 3 | Felsina | s.t. | 
Stage 6
May 25, FlorenceFlorence
Florence  is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
> Genova
Génova
Génova may refer to:* Spanish spelling of the city of Genoa, Italy* Génova, Quindío, a municipality in the department of Quindío, Colombia* Génova, Quetzaltenango, a municipality in the department of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala...
, 294.1km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Legnano | 11h 01' 30" | |
| 2 | Legnano | s.t. | |
| 3 | Atala | + 13' 57" | 
Stage 7
May 27, GenoaGenoa
Genoa  |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
> Turin
Turin
Turin  is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193  while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, 354.9km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atala | 11h 01' 30" | |
| 2 | Legnano | + 4' | |
| 3 | Legnano | + 25' | 
Stage 8
May 30, TurinTurin
Turin  is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193  while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
> Milan
Milan
Milan  is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, 206km
| Place | Rider | Team | Time | 
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6h 54' 55" | ||
| 2 | Legnano | s.t. | |
| 3 | Atala | s.t. | 
General classification
| Cyclist | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 89h 48' 14" – 25 points | |
| 2 | 27 points | |
| 3 | 40 points | |
| 4 | 59 points | |
| 5 | 72 points | |
| 6 | 77 points | |
| 7 | 91 points | |
| 8 | 98 points | |
| 9 | 117 points | |
| 10 | 139 points | 


