# 1956 Giro d'Italia

The 1956 Giro d'Italia was the 39th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Milan on 19 May with a 210 km (130.5 mi) flat stage and concluded back in Milan with a 113 km (70.2 mi) relatively flat mass-start stage on 10 June. Sixteen teams entered the race, which was won by Luxembourgian Charly Gaul of the Faema team. Second and third respectively were Italian riders Fiorenzo Magni and Agostino Coletto.
Gaul took the lead in the legendary stage up Monte Bondone, where under a snow storm he won with an 8-minute margin over runner up Alessandro Fantini. This edition is unique since there were two Mountains Classification winners. There were two awards for the Dolomites and the Apennine mountains, the winners were Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes respectively.

## Teams

Fifteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1956 edition of the Giro d'Italia. Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 105 cyclists. From the riders that began the race, 43 made it to the finish in Milan.
The teams entering the race were:
| Arbos-Bif-Clément Atala-Pirelli Bianchi-Pirelli Carpano-Coppi Eldorado | Faema-Guerra Francia Fréjus-Superga Girardengo-ICEP Italcover | Ignis Legnano Leo-Chlorodont Nivea-Fuchs Torpado-Pirelli |

## Pre-race favorites

The race was thought to be more open in previous years due to notable absences of top riders like Louison Bobet due to sickness, 1950 winner Hugo Koblet as he was recovering from a back injury and desired to focus on the Tour de France, Stan Ockers, Ferdinand Kübler, and Raphaël Géminiani, along with the innovations regarding the race route. A Feuille d'Avis de Neuchatel writer felt that the race would offer a great opportunity for the younger riders to succeed as the previous great riders like Coppi are getting too old. Previous year's winner Fiorenzo Magni (Nivea-Fuchs) was one of the older generation of riders to enter the race in great form, coming off of a win at the Tour of Piedmont. In addition, Magni had announced that this would be his last Giro as he would retire as the season's end. The writer continued naming young Italians with potential to contend like Gastone Nencini (Leo–Chlorodont), following his performance in last Giro, amateur road race champion Sante Ranucci (Legnano), and Aldo Moser (Torpado). Jean Brankart lead the primarily Belgian Eldorado team and was viewed as a rider who would win a Tour de France. Some viewed Charly Gaul (Faema) as a favorite to contend for the overall. Spanish contenders were thought to be climber Federico Bahamontes (Girardengo), while sprinter Miguel Poblet (Faema) was thought to be a favorite for the flatter stages.

## Route and stages

The route was revealed on 24 February 1956. The race contained eight stages with mountains, which contained sixteen categorized climbs. The race route all together contained 3 rest days and 23 stages across 25 days of racing, of which 18 were mass-start stages, two individual time trials, one team time trial event, and one individual time trial run as a relay. The relay event took place in San Marino. The second day of racing featured a split stage where the second half was a team time trial that was contested at night to not interfere with a local football match that was happening in the afternoon. The planned tenth stage from Salerno to Frascati was deemed an "electoral stage" at the route's announcement and was chosen to be removed because it fell on the day of Italian municipal elections. Three new Dolomite mountains were climbed during this edition of the race: Monte Bondone (1,300 m (4,265 ft)), San-Pellegrino (1,918 m (6,293 ft)), and Vallès (2,033 m (6,670 ft) meters). Eleven categorized climbs from the Apennines were included in the race route, with the Pian di Creto (605 m (1,985 ft)) being utilized in the second stage. For the first time in race history, the cities of Lecco, Rapallo, Salice Terme were stops for the Giro.
When interviewed about the route several current and former riders said. The route was thought to be difficult.
Stage characteristics and winners :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 19 May | Milan to Alessandria | 210 km (130 mi) | | Plain stage | Pierino Baffi (ITA) |
| 2a | 20 May | Alessandria to Genoa | 96 km (60 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Alessandro Fantini (ITA) |
| 2b | 20 May | Circuito di Lido d'Albaro | 12 km (7 mi) | | Team time trial | Leo-Chlorodont |
| 3 | 21 May | Genoa to Salice Terme | 152 km (94 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Alessandro Fantini (ITA) |
| 4 | 22 May | Voghera to Mantua | 198 km (123 mi) | | Plain stage | Miguel Poblet (ESP) |
| 5 | 23 May | Mantua to Rimini | 228 km (142 mi) | | Plain stage | Giuseppe Minardi (ITA) |
| 6 | 23 May | San Marino | 13 km (8 mi) | | Individual time trial | Jan Nolten (NED) |
| 7 | 24 May | Rimini to Pescara | 245 km (152 mi) | | Plain stage | Arrigo Padovan (ITA) |
| 8 | 25 May | Pescara to Campobasso | 205 km (127 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Charly Gaul (LUX) |
| 9 | 26 May | Campobasso to Salerno | 156 km (97 mi) | | Plain stage | Miguel Poblet (ESP) |
| 10 | 27 May | Salerno to Frascati | 280 km (174 mi) | | Plain stage | Stage Cancelled |
| 11 | 28 May | Rome to Grosseto | 198 km (123 mi) | | Plain stage | Bruno Tognaccini (ITA) |
| 12 | 29 May | Grosseto to Livorno | 230 km (143 mi) | | Plain stage | Pietro Nascimbene (ITA) |
| | 30 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 13 | 31 May | Livorno to Lucca | 54 km (34 mi) | | Individual time trial | Pasquale Fornara (ITA) |
| 14 | 1 June | Lucca to Bologna | 168 km (104 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Michel Stolker (NED) |
| 15 | 2 June | Bologna to Madonna di San Luca | 2.45 km (2 mi) | | Individual time trial | Charly Gaul (LUX) |
| 16 | 3 June | Bologna to Rapallo | 271 km (168 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Miguel Poblet (ESP) |
| 17 | 4 June | Rapallo to Lecco | 278 km (173 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Giorgio Albani (ITA) |
| 18 | 5 June | Lecco to Sondrio | 98 km (61 mi) | | Plain stage | Miguel Poblet (ESP) |
| | 6 June | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 19 | 7 June | Sondrio to Merano | 163 km (101 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Cleto Maule (ITA) |
| 20 | 8 June | Merano to Monte Bondone | 242 km (150 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Charly Gaul (LUX) |
| 21 | 9 June | Trento to San Pellegrino Terme | 191 km (119 mi) | | Plain stage | Giorgio Albani (ITA) |
| 22 | 10 June | San Pellegrino Terme to Milan | 113 km (70 mi) | | Plain stage | Donato Piazza (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) |

## Classification leadership

One jersey was worn during the 1956 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.
There were three mountains classifications in the 1956 Giro d'Italia, one for the Dolomites, Apennines, and one for the highest mountain in the race, the Passo dello Stelvio. The rider that was the first over the Stelvio was Ignis' Aurelio Del Rio. 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.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Trofeo Dolomiti | Trofeo Appennini | Team classification |
| 1 | Pierino Baffi | Pierino Baffi | not awarded | not awarded | ? |
| 2a | Alessandro Fantini | Pierino Baffi | not awarded | Giuseppe Fallarini | Legnano |
| 2b | Leo-Chlorodont | Vincenzo Zucconelli | not awarded | Giuseppe Fallarini | Legnano |
| 3 | Alessandro Fantini | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| 4 | Miguel Poblet | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| 5 | Giuseppe Minardi | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | ? |
| 6 | Jan Nolten | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Atala & Legnano |
| 7 | Arrigo Padovan | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| 8 | Charly Gaul | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | ? |
| 9 | Miguel Poblet | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 10 | Stage Cancelled | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 11 | Bruno Tognaccini | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 12 | Pietro Nascimbene | Alessandro Fantini | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 13 | Pasquale Fornara | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 14 | Michel Stolker | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 15 | Charly Gaul | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 16 | Miguel Poblet | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 17 | Giorgio Albani | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 18 | Miguel Poblet | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 19 | Cleto Maule | Pasquale Fornara | not awarded | Federico Bahamontes | Legnano |
| 20 | Charly Gaul | Charly Gaul | Charly Gaul | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| 21 | Giorgio Albani | Charly Gaul | Charly Gaul | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| 22 | Donato Piazza | Charly Gaul | Charly Gaul | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |
| Final | Final | Charly Gaul | Charly Gaul | Federico Bahamontes | Atala |

## Final standings

Legend :
* Denotes the winner of the General classification

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 1 | Charly Gaul (LUX) | Faema-Guerra | 101h 39' 49" |
| 2 | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) | Nivea-Fuchs | + 3' 27" |
| 3 | Agostino Coletto (ITA) | Fréjus | + 6' 53" |
| 4 | Cleto Maule (ITA) | Torpado | + 7' 25" |
| 5 | Aldo Moser (ITA) | Torpado | + 7' 30" |
| 6 | Alessandro Fantini (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | + 8' 46" |
| 7 | Jean Brankart (BEL) | Eldroado | + 9' 21" |
| 8 | Bruno Monti (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | + 10' 54" |
| 9 | Waldemaro Bartolozzi (ITA) | Legnano | + 18' 14" |
| 10 | Hilaire Couvreur (BEL) | Eldorado | + 18' 41" |

### Trofeo Dolomiti

Final mountains classification (1-7) :
| | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | Charly Gaul (LUX) | Faema-Guerra | 20 |
| 2 | Bruno Monti (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 5 |
| 3 | Arrigo Padovan (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 4 |
| 3 | Alessandro Fantini (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 4 |
| 3 | Agostino Coletto (ITA) | Fréjus | 4 |
| 6 | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) | Nivea-Fuchs | 8 |
| 7 | Pierino Baffi (ITA) | Nivea-Fuchs | 8 |

### Trofeo Appennini

Final mountains classification (1–5) :
| | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | Federico Bahamontes (ESP) | Girardengo | 30 |
| 2 | Bruno Monti (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 13 |
| 3 | Giuseppe Buratti (ITA) | Bianchi | 11 |
| 4 | Pasquale Fornara (ITA) | Arbos | 10 |
| 5 | Aldo Moser (ITA) | Torpado | 8 |

### Intermediate sprints classification

Final intermediate sprints classification (1–6) :
| | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | Giorgio Albani (ITA) | Legnano | 22 |
| 2 | Giuseppe Favero (ITA) | Bianchi | 11 |
| 3 | Mies Stolker (NED) | Italcover | 10 |
| 4 | Guido De Santi (ITA) | Ignis | 8 |
| 4 | Mario Baroni (ITA) | Nivea-Fuchs | 8 |
| 6 | Gino Guerrini (ITA) | Carpano-Coppi | 7 |
| 6 | Alessandro Fantini (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 7 |

### Trofeo della plata

Final Trofeo della plata classification (1–4) :
| | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | Giorgio Albani (ITA) | Legnano | 8 |
| 2 | Bruno Monti (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 6 |
| 2 | Guido De Santi (ITA) | Ignis | 6 |
| 4 | Arrigo Padovan (ITA) | Atala-Pirelli | 5 |
| 4 | Bruno Tognaccini (ITA) | Leo-Chlorodont | 5 |
| 4 | Pietro Nascimbene (ITA) | Carpano-Coppi | 5 |
| 4 | Mies Stolker (NED) | Italcover | 5 |
| 4 | Cleto Maule (ITA) | Torpado | 5 |
| 4 | Donato Piazza (ITA) | Nivea-Fuchs | 5 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1–6) :
| | Team | Points |
| 1 | Atala-Pirelli | 1014 |
| 2 | Torpado | 1054 |
| 3 | Nivea-Fuchs | 1200 |
| 4 | Carpano-Coppi | 1545 |
| 5 | Leo-Chlorodont | 1619 |
| 6 | Ignis | 1627 |