# 1953 Giro d'Italia

The 1953 Giro d'Italia was the 36th edition of the Giro d'Italia. The Giro started off in Milan on 12 May with a 263 km (163.4 mi) flat stage and concluded back in Milan with a 220 km (136.7 mi) relatively flat mass-start stage on 2 June. Sixteen teams entered the race, which was won by Italian Fausto Coppi of the Bianchi team. Second and third respectively were Swiss rider Hugo Koblet and Italian Pasquale Fornara.
Hugo Koblet held the pink jersey up until the penultimate stage, when Coppi attacked and left him behind on the climb up the Stelvio Pass (included in the Giro for the first time), taking the lead and securing the final victory. Since then the Stelvio Pas is par excellence the Cima Coppi of the competition.

## Teams

Sixteen teams were invited by the race organizers to participate in the 1953 edition of the Giro d'Italia. Like the Tour de France the teams were nation based for the first time at the Giro, with each national team being sponsored by an Italian brand. Each team sent a squad of seven riders, which meant that the race started with a peloton of 112 cyclists. From the riders that began the race, 72 made it to the finish in Milan. In total there were 35 foreign riders that started the race.
The teams entering the race were:
* Arbos
* Atala
* Bartali
* Bianchi
* Bottecchia
* Fiorelli
* Francia
* Fréjus
* Ganna
* Girardengo
* Guerra
* Legnano
* Levirere
* Locomotief
* Torpado–Ursus
* Welter

## Pre-race favorites

The "Big Three" of Gino Bartali (Bartali), Fausto Coppi (Bianchi), and Fiorenzo Magni (Ganna) were expected to dominate the general classification. A La Liberté writer felt that young riders Giancarlo Astrua (Atala), Nino Defilippis (Legnano), Pasquale Fornara (Bottecchia), and climber Bruno Monti (Arbos) would be exciting to watch throughout the race to see their potential. French rider and Swiss riders were thought to be very strong, while Spanish riders Bernardo Ruiz and Michel Gual were thought to be their country's best riders. Swiss rider and former Giro winner Hugo Koblet (Cilo) was regarded as being in sensational form entering the Giro, coming off a win at the Tour de Romandie. Taking that into account with his good health, the media felt Koblet could be the one to challenge Coppi best.
A notable absence from the race was Bianchi rider Loretto Petrucci who had won the previous two Milan–San Remo, who was not brought to the race because of his young age according to his team; however, he had previously raced in 1951 and 1952. A La Sentinelle writer believed that Petrucci's omission from the race was due to Petrucci's desire to race for victories and not for the team leader Coppi.

## Route and stages

On 26 March, the route was announced to be from 12 May to 28 May. It was later rumored on 30 March, that the race may include the Olympic stadium. The full route was later unveiled on 9 April 1953, with a changed finale on the 2 June. The race route featured 20 days of racing spread across 22 days as 20 May in Pisa and 27 May in San Pellegrino were set aside as rest days.
Stage characteristics and results :
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Type | Type | Winner |
| 1 | 12 May | Milan to Abano Terme | 263 km (163 mi) | | Plain stage | Wim Van Est (NED) |
| 2 | 13 May | Abano Terme to Rimini | 278 km (173 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Pasquale Fornara (ITA) |
| 3 | 14 May | Rimini to San Benedetto del Tronto | 182 km (113 mi) | | Plain stage | Albino Crespi (ITA) |
| 4 | 15 May | San Benedetto del Tronto to Roccaraso | 171 km (106 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) |
| 5 | 16 May | Roccaraso to Naples | 149 km (93 mi) | | Plain stage | Ettore Milano (ITA) |
| 6 | 17 May | Naples to Rome | 285 km (177 mi) | | Plain stage | Giuseppe Minardi (ITA) |
| 7 | 18 May | Rome to Grosseto | 178 km (111 mi) | | Plain stage | Giovanni Corrieri (ITA) |
| 8 | 18 May | Grosseto to Follonica | 48 km (30 mi) | | Individual time trial | Hugo Koblet (SUI) |
| 9 | 19 May | Follonica to Pisa | 114 km (71 mi) | | Plain stage | Rik Van Steenbergen (BEL) |
| | 20 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 10 | 21 May | Pisa to Modena | 189 km (117 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) |
| 11 | 22 May | Modena to Modena | 30 km (19 mi) | | Team time trial | Bianchi |
| 12 | 23 May | Modena to Genoa | 278 km (173 mi) | | Plain stage | Giorgio Albani (ITA) |
| 13 | 24 May | Genoa to Bordighera | 256 km (159 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Oreste Conte (ITA) |
| 14 | 25 May | Bordighera to Turin | 242 km (150 mi) | | Plain stage | Pietro Giudici (ITA) |
| 15 | 26 May | Turin to San Pellegrino Terme | 232 km (144 mi) | | Plain stage | Nino Assirelli (ITA) |
| | 27 May | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day | Rest day |
| 16 | 28 May | San Pellegrino Terme to Riva del Garda | 279 km (173 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) |
| 17 | 29 May | Riva del Garda to Vicenza | 166 km (103 mi) | | Plain stage | Bruno Monti (ITA) |
| 18 | 30 May | Vicenza to Auronzo di Cadore | 186 km (116 mi) | | Plain stage | Bruno Monti (ITA) |
| 19 | 31 May | Auronzo di Cadore to Bolzano | 164 km (102 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) |
| 20 | 1 June | Bolzano to Bormio | 125 km (78 mi) | | Stage with mountain(s) | Fausto Coppi (ITA) |
| 21 | 2 June | Bormio to Milan | 220 km (137 mi) | | Plain stage | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) |
| | Total | Total | 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi) | 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi) | 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi) | 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi) | 4,035.5 km (2,508 mi) |

## Race overview

The race started outside the Piazza del Duomo in Milan. Ferdinand Kubler withdrew from the race early on due to disputes.

## Classification leadership

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. Time bonuses were awarded to the stage winner and the first riders to summit categorized climbs. Riders were allowed to have teammates and team cars help to following accidents and punctures. "Strollers" in years past were punished with small fines, but in this edition of the race they were punished by time adjustments and repeat offenses may lead to disqualification from the race. The winner of the race received 1 million lire, while the remainder of the podium received 450,000 lire each.
Two additional jerseys were in use. The green jersey was given to the best foreign cyclist in the general classification; at the end of the Giro it was worn by Swiss Hugo Koblet. The white jersey was given to the best cyclist riding with a licence for independents; this was won by Angelo Conterno. The winner of each classification earned 500,000 lire.
The mountains classification leader was not identified by a special jersey. The climbs all awarded three points to the first rider and one point to the second rider to cross the summit. There was one category for mountains which awarded five points down to one point for the first riders to cross the summit. The winner of the mountains classification was given 400,000 lire. Although no jersey was awarded, there was also one classification for the teams, in which the stage finish times of the best three cyclists per team were added; the leading team was the one with the lowest total time. The team winning team received 2.5 million lire.
Each day leading the general classification earned the rider and his team 100,000 lira, while the independent rider and foreign rider earned 25,000 lira each day for leading their respective classifications.
Classification leadership by stage :
| Stage | Winner | General classification | Best foreign rider | Best independent rider | Mountains classification | Team classification |
| 1 | Wim Van Est | Wim Van Est | Wim Van Est | Alfo Ferrari | not awarded | Locomotief |
| 2 | Pasquale Fornara | Guido De Santi | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Levriere |
| 3 | Albino Crespi | Guido De Santi | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Levriere |
| 4 | Fausto Coppi | Pasquale Fornara | Louison Bobet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bianchi & Francia |
| 5 | Ettore Milano | Pasquale Fornara | Louison Bobet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bianchi & Francia |
| 6 | Giuseppe Minardi | Guido De Santi | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bianchi & Francia |
| 7 | Giovanni Corrieri | Giovanni Corrieri | Hugo Koblet | Arrigo Padovan | Pasquale Fornara | Bianchi & Francia |
| 8 | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 9 | Rik Van Steenbergen | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 10 | Fiorenzo Magni | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bianchi |
| 11 | Bianchi | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 12 | Giorgio Albani | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 13 | Oreste Conte | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Elio Brasola | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 14 | Pietro Giudici | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Bartali |
| 15 | Nino Assirelli | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Bottecchia |
| 16 | Fiorenzo Magni | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| 17 | Bruno Monti | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| 18 | Bruno Monti | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| 19 | Fausto Coppi | Hugo Koblet | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| 20 | Fausto Coppi | Fausto Coppi | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| 21 | Fiorenzo Magni | Fausto Coppi | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |
| Final | Final | Fausto Coppi | Hugo Koblet | Angelo Conterno | Pasquale Fornara | Ganna |

## Final standings

Legend :
| Denotes the winner of the General classification | | Denotes the winner of the Independent rider |
| Denotes the winner of the Foreign rider classification | Denotes the winner of the Foreign rider classification | Denotes the winner of the Foreign rider classification |

### General classification

Final general classification (1–10) :
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 1 | Fausto Coppi (ITA) | Bianchi | 118h 37' 26" |
| 2 | Hugo Koblet (SUI) | Guerra | + 1' 26" |
| 3 | Pasquale Fornara (ITA) | Bottecchia | + 6' 55" |
| 4 | Gino Bartali (ITA) | Bartali | + 14' 08" |
| 5 | Angelo Conterno (ITA) | Fréjus | + 20' 51" |
| 6 | Stan Ockers (BEL) | Girardengo | + 24' 14" |
| 7 | Giovanni Roma (ITA) | Bottecchia | + 24' 35" |
| 8 | Guido De Santi (ITA) | Benotto | + 25' 06" |
| 9 | Fiorenzo Magni (ITA) | Ganna | + 25' 39" |
| 10 | Vincenzo Rossello (ITA) | Ganna | + 26' 21" |

### Independent rider classification

Final Independent rider classification (1–5) :
| Rank | Name | Time |
| 1 | Angelo Conterno (ITA) | 118h 58' 17" |
| 2 | Giovanni Roma (ITA) | + 3 '44" |
| 3 | Pietro Giudici (ITA) | + 8' 11" |
| 4 | Donato Zampini (ITA) | + 11' 03" |
| 5 | Arrigo Padovan (ITA) | + 12' 32" |

### Foreign rider classification

Final Foreign rider classification (1–5) :
| Rank | Name | Team | Time |
| 1 | Hugo Koblet (SUI) | Guerra | 118h 38' 55" |
| 2 | Stan Ockers (BEL) | Girardengo | + 22' 45" |
| 3 | Wim Van Est (NED) | Holland | + 28' 28" |
| 4 | Fritz Schaer (SUI) | Guerra | + 28' 57" |
| 5 | Roger Pontet (FRA) | France | + 52' 56" |

### Mountains classification

Final mountains classification (1–9) :
| | Name | Team | Points |
| 1 | Pasquale Fornara (ITA) | Bottecchia | 33 |
| 2 | Fausto Coppi (ITA) | Bianchi | 20 |
| 3 | Gino Bartali (ITA) | Bartali | 16 |
| 4 | Hugo Koblet (SUI) | Guerra | 15 |
| 5 | Primo Volpi (ITA) | Arbos | 10 |
| 6 | Andrea Carrea (ITA) | Bianchi | 8 |
| 7 | Stan Ockers (BEL) | Girardengo | 5 |
| 8 | Danilo Barozzi (ITA) | Atala | 4 |
| 9 | Nino Defilippis (ITA) | Legnano | 3 |
| 9 | Giovanni Roma (ITA) | Bottecchia | 3 |

### Team classification

Final team classification (1-10) :
| | Team | Time |
| 1 | Ganna | 357h 13' 20" |
| 2 | Bottecchia | + 7' 21" |
| 3 | Bianchi | + 10' 51" |
| 4 | Legnano | + 37' 59" |
| 5 | Bartali | + 39' 00" |
| 6 | Fréjus | + 49' 47" |
| 7 | Svizzera-Guerra | + 1h 01' 12" |
| 8 | Levrieri | + 1h 05' 23" |
| 9 | Arbos | + 1h 11' 58" |
| 10 | Atala | + 1h 33' 11" |