The 1961 Giro d'Italia was the 44th running of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tour races. The Giro started in Turin, on 20 May, with a 115 km (71.5 mi) stage and concluded in Milan, on 11 June, with a 214 km (133.0 mi) leg. A total of 170 riders from 17 teams entered the 21-stage race, which was won by Italian Arnaldo Pambianco of the Fides team. The second and third places were taken by Frenchman Jacques Anquetil and Spaniard Antonio Suárez, respectively.[1][2]
A total of 17 teams were invited to participate in the 1961 Giro d'Italia.[3] Each team sent a squad of ten riders, so the Giro began with a peloton of 170 cyclists.[3] Out of the 170 riders that started this edition of the Giro d'Italia, a total of 92 riders made it to the finish in Milan.[4][5] Legnano initially threatened to not participate in the Giro.[6]
There was initial belief that Charly Gaul would not race the Giro.[7]
Route and stages
Armando di Maria (left, Carpano) helping Gianni Ferlenghi (right, Gazzola–Fiorelli) dump a bucket of water on his head during the sixteenth stage of the race.
One jersey was worn during the 1961 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.[10]
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 three categories of mountains. The first category awarded 50, 40, 30, 20, and 10 points, the second distributed 40, 30, 20, and 10 points,[11] and the third category gave 30, 20, and 10 points.[12] 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.[10]
^ abc"Sperano in 170" [Hoping for 170]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 20 May 1961. p. 2. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
^ abcdeBill and Carol McGann. "1961 Giro d'Italia". Bike Race Info. Dog Ear Publishing. Archived from the original on 27 February 2014. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
^Mario De Angelis (7 April 1961). "Gaul diserterà il Giro d'Italia" [Gaul will desert the Giro d'Italia]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). p. 1. Archived from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
^"Presentato il "Giro" del Centenario" [Presented the "Giro" of the Centenary] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 23 April 1961. p. 7. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
^"El <<Giro>> del Centenario" [The <<Giro>> of the Century] (PDF) (in Spanish). El Mundo Deportivo. 23 April 1961. p. 6. Archived(PDF) from the original on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
^"Taccone miglior scalatore" [Taccone best climber]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 5 June 1961. p. 13. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
^"Gran Premio della Montagna Trofeo "VOV"" [King of the Mountain Trophy " VOV "]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 25 May 1961. p. 10. Archived from the original on 5 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
^"Con 3' 45" su Anquetil" [With 3' 45" about Anquetil]. Corriere dello Sport (in Italian). 12 June 1961. p. 1. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
^ abc"Laurea per Pambianco" [Degree for Pambianco] (PDF). l'Unità (in Italian). PCI. 12 June 1961. p. 3. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2 May 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
