# 1979 Giro d'Italia

The 1979 Giro d'Italia was the 62nd running of the Giro, one of cycling's Grand Tours. It started in Florence, on 17 May, with an 8 km (5.0 mi) prologue and concluded in Milan, on 6 June, with a 44 km (27.3 mi) individual time trial. A total of 130 riders from thirteen teams entered the 19-stage race, that was won by Italian Giuseppe Saronni of the Scic-Bottecchia team. The second and third places were taken by Italian Francesco Moser and Swede Bernt Johansson, respectively.
In addition to the general classification, Saronni won the points classification, Amongst the other classifications that the race awarded, Claudio Bortolotto of Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV won the mountains classification, and Bianchi-Faema's Silvano Contini completed the Giro as the best rider aged 24 or under in the general classification, finishing fifth overall. Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV finishing as the winners of the team classification, ranking each of the twenty teams contesting the race by lowest cumulative time.

## Teams

Thirteen of the fourteen teams invited to the 1979 Giro d'Italia participated in the race. Kas were forced to decline their invitation, in favor of racing the Vuelta a España, by the Spanish Federation which wanted the "best Hispanic" peloton to be competing in Vuelta that year. Each team sent a squad of ten riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 130 cyclists. From the riders that began this edition, 111 made it to the finish in Milan.
The teams entering the race were:
| Bianchi-Faema CBM Fast-Gaggia G.B.C.-Galli-Castelli Gis Gelati Magniflex-Famcucine | Mecap-Hoonved Mobilificio San Giacomo Peugeot-Esso-Michelin Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | Sapa Assicurazioni Scic-Bottecchia Willora-Piz Buin-Bonanza Zonca-Santini |

## Pre-race favorites

The starting peloton did include the 1978 winner, Johan De Muynck. Successful French rider Bernard Hinault did not enter the race.

## Route and stages

The route was unveiled on 22 March 1979. Covering a total of 3,301 km (2,051 mi), it included five individual time trials, and nine stages with categorized climbs that awarded mountains classification points. The organizers chose to include two rest days. When compared to the previous year's race, the race was 309 km (192 mi) shorter and contained one more time trial. In addition, this race contained one less stage.
Stage results :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| P | 17 May | Florence to Florence | 8 km (5 mi) | | Individual time trial | Francesco Moser (ITA) |
| 1 | 18 May | Florence to Perugia | 156 km (97 mi) | | Plain stage | Mario Beccia (ITA) |
| 2 | 19 May | Perugia to Castel Gandolfo | 204 km (127 mi) | | Plain stage | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) |
| 3 | 20 May | Caserta to Naples | 31 km (19 mi) | | Individual time trial | Francesco Moser (ITA) |
| 4 | 21 May | Caserta to Potenza | 210 km (130 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) |
| 5 | 22 May | Potenza to Vieste | 223 km (139 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) |
| 6 | 23 May | Vieste to Chieti | 260 km (162 mi) | | Plain stage | Bruno Wolfer (SUI) |
| 7 | 24 May | Chieti to Pesaro | 252 km (157 mi) | | Plain stage | Alan Van Heerden (RSA) |
| 8 | 25 May | Rimini to City of San Marino (San Marino) | 28 km (17 mi) | | Individual time trial | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) |
| 9 | 26 May | City of San Marino (San Marino) to Pistoia | 248 km (154 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) |
| 10 | 27 May | Lerici to Portovenere | 25 km (16 mi) | | Individual time trial | Knut Knudsen (NOR) |
| 11 | 28 May | La Spezia to Voghera | 212 km (132 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Bernt Johansson (SWE) |
| 12 | 29 May | Alessandria to Saint-Vincent | 204 km (127 mi) | | Plain stage | Roger De Vlaeminck (BEL) |
| 13 | 30 May | Aosta to Meda | 229 km (142 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Dino Porrini (ITA) |
| 14 | 31 May | Meda to Bosco Chiesanuova | 212 km (132 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Bernt Johansson (SWE) |
| 15 | 1 June | Verona to Treviso | 121 km (75 mi) | | Plain stage | Giuseppe Martinelli (ITA) |
| 16 | 2 June | Treviso to Pieve di Cadore | 195 km (121 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Roberto Ceruti (ITA) |
| | 3 June | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 17 | 4 June | Pieve di Cadore to Trento | 194 km (121 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Francesco Moser (ITA) |
| 18 | 5 June | Trento to Barzio | 245 km (152 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Amilcare Sgalbazzi (ITA) |
| 19 | 6 June | Cesano Maderno to Milan | 44 km (27 mi) | | Individual time trial | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,301 km (2,051 mi) | 3,301 km (2,051 mi) | 3,301 km (2,051 mi) | 3,301 km (2,051 mi) | 3,301 km (2,051 mi) |

## Classification leadership

There were four main individual classifications contested in the 1979 Giro d'Italia, as well as a team competition. Four 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. 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 denoted by the 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 Pordoi, which was first crossed by Italian rider Leonardo Natale. The fourth classification, the young rider classification, was decided the same way as the general classification, but exclusive to neo-professional cyclists (in their first three years of professional racing). The leader of the classification wore a white jersey. In addition, the rider had to be aged 24 and younger.
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 Campionato delle Regioni classification. The leader wore a blue jersey with colored vertical stripes ("maglia azzurra con banda tricolore verticale"). The Fiat Ritmo classification, which was created in honor Juan Manuel Santisteban who died in stage 1A of 1976 edition. In all stages longer than 131 km (81 mi), there was a banner at that point in the stage to designate a special sprint. The winner of the sprint in each stage received a Fiat Ritmo.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Points classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Team classification |
| P | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | not awarded | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 1 | Mario Beccia | Francesco Moser | Knut Knudsen | not awarded | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 2 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | not awarded | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 3 | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | not awarded | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 4 | Claudio Bortolotto | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | Mario Beccia | ? | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |
| 5 | Giuseppe Saronni | Francesco Moser | Francesco Moser | Mario Beccia | ? | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |
| 6 | Bruno Wolfer | Francesco Moser | Giuseppe Saronni | Mario Beccia | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 7 | Alan Van Heerden | Francesco Moser | Giuseppe Saronni | Mario Beccia | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 8 | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Mario Beccia | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 9 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Claudio Bortolotto | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 10 | Knut Knudsen | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Claudio Bortolotto | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 11 | Bernt Johansson | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Roger De Vlaeminck | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 12 | Roger De Vlaeminck | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Roger De Vlaeminck | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 13 | Dino Porrini | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Claudio Bortolotto | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 14 | Bernt Johansson | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Bernt Johansson | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 15 | Giuseppe Martinelli | Giuseppe Saronni | Francesco Moser | Bernt Johansson | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 16 | Roberto Ceruti | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Bernt Johansson | ? | Bianchi-Faema |
| 17 | Francesco Moser | Giuseppe Saronni | Francesco Moser | Claudio Bortolotto | ? | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |
| 18 | Amilcare Sgalbazzi | Giuseppe Saronni | Francesco Moser | Claudio Bortolotto | Silvano Contini | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |
| 19 | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Claudio Bortolotto | Silvano Contini | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |
| Final | Final | Giuseppe Saronni | Giuseppe Saronni | Claudio Bortolotto | Silvano Contini | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV |

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the General classification | | Denotes the winner of the Mountains classification |
| Denotes the winner of the Points classification | Denotes the winner of the Points classification | Denotes the winner of the Points classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 1 | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) | Scic-Bottecchia | 89h 29' 18" |
| 2 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | + 2' 09" |
| 3 | Bernt Johansson (SWE) | Magniflex-Famcucine | + 3' 13" |
| 4 | Michel Laurent (FRA) | Peugeot-Esso-Michelin | + 5' 31" |
| 5 | Silvano Contini (ITA) | Bianchi-Faema | + 7' 33" |
| 6 | Mario Beccia (ITA) | Mecap-Hoonved | + 7' 50" |
| 7 | Fausto Bertoglio (ITA) | Mobilificio San Giacomo | + 11' 27" |
| 8 | Josef Fuchs (SUI) | Scic-Bottecchia | + 13' 07" |
| 9 | Gottfried Schmutz (SUI) | Willora-Piz Buin-Bonanza | + 14' 16" |
| 10 | Roberto Visentini (ITA) | CBM Fast-Gaggia | + 16' 11" |

### Points classification

Final points classification (1-5) :
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) | Scic-Bottecchia | 275 |
| 2 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | 274 |
| 3 | Bernt Johansson (SWE) | Magniflex-Famcucine | 260 |
| 4 | Mario Beccia (ITA) | Mecap-Hoonved | 130 |
| 5 | Michel Laurent (FRA) | Peugeot-Esso-Michelin | 118 |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1-10) :
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Claudio Bortolotto (ITA) | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | 495 |
| 2 | Beat Breu (SUI) | Willora-Piz Buin-Bonanza | 330 |
| 3 | Bernt Johansson (SWE) | Magniflex-Famcucine | 300 |
| 4 | Mario Beccia (ITA) | Mecap-Hoonved | 215 |
| 5 | Mario Ceruti (ITA) | Magniflex-Famcucine | 170 |
| 5 | Amilcare Sgalbazzi (ITA) | Magniflex-Famcucine | 170 |
| 5 | Bruno Vicino (ITA) | G.B.C.-Galli-Castelli | 170 |
| 8 | Leonardo Natale (ITA) | Sapa Assicurazioni | 150 |
| 8 | Giuseppe Saronni (ITA) | Scic-Bottecchia | 150 |
| 10 | Francesco Moser (ITA) | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | 130 |

### Young rider classification

Final young rider classification (1–3) :
| | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Silvano Contini (ITA) | Bianchi-Faema | 89h 36' 51" |
| 2 | Roberto Visentini (ITA) | CBM Fast-Gaggia | + 8' 38" |
| 3 | Marino Amadori (ITA) | Sapa Assicurazioni | + 11' 24" |

### Traguardi Fiat Ritmo classification

Final traguardi fiat ritmo classification (1–2) :
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Angelo Tosoni (ITA) | CBM Fast-Gaggia | 46 |
| 2 | Cesare Cipollini (ITA) | Mobilificio San Giacomo | 24 |
| 2 | Walter Dusi (ITA) | Sapa Assicurazioni | 24 |
| 2 | Alessio Antonini (ITA) | Mobilificio San Giacomo | 24 |

### Campionato delle Regioni classification

Final campionato delle regioni classification (1–3) :
| | Rider | Team | Points |
| 1 | Paolo Rosola (ITA) | Sapa Assicurazioni | 46 |
| 2 | Giuseppe Martinelli (ITA) | Mobilificio San Giacomo | 44 |
| 3 | Bruno Wolfer (SUI) | Zonca-Santini | 30 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–3) :
| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Sanson Gelati-Luxor TV | ? |
| 2 | Scic-Bottecchia | + 6' 48" |
| 3 | Magniflex-Famcucine | + 10' 42" |