In those days of May 1985, the Giro d'Italia was the main competition. Despite this, Giro was very far of its past. In 1985, the Giro was a great defenition: flat. Most of the stages wre flat stages (I think that there were more sprinters and combative riders in the peloton than climbers) ot time trials (Moser and Saronni wre both good TT). There were a few medium-mountain stages, like a classic (also for the italian names) and a few high mountain stages, without mythical climbs (almost all of mountains were climbed by the easier side). With the organizational problems, also we had the riders mafia, that supported the sprinters or Moser, or Saronni. All of this elements combined themselves to product a disastrous Giro.
The favourites:
*** Hinault, Moser, Saronni, Visentini
** LeMond, Prim, Lejarreta, Baronchelli, Arroyo
* Contini, Beccia, Van Impe, ArgentÃn, Chioccioli
The Giro started with a prologue, that Moser won. Next day won Freuler, one of the best sprinters racing in Italy those times and, in the 3rd day, a Team time-trial put Saronni as a leader. Only at the 4th stage real action began, with the Selva Val Gardena climb at the end of the stage. Although it was a long climb, it wasn't too hard. Hinault attacked, but the winner was Hubert Seiz, while Visentini took the lead.
Then, we have the flat. Long and flat stages, ran slowly, only with the final sprint as point of interest. Some of them had uphill finishes or some little climbs, only to put some seconds between riders' groups.
The first long ITT was won by Hinault. A mechanical mistake by Moser let Hinault to win, and to dress the pink jersey, that remained with him till the end of the race. Next, another flat stage and, finally, the mountain, with the great Gran' Sasso. Sadly, the stage ended downhill. Chioccioli won and there weren't any significative changes in the GC. Then, more flat and a medium-high mountain stage finishing in Modena, stage won by Gisiger after a strong ride from the young spanish promise Jose Luis Navarro, that took the leadership of the mountain classification. At Modena, Arroyo retired. The great spanish climber was in a bad fitness moment, after a fever and never regained his level before it.
After another rest day, the Giro started the real mountain stages in the Alps, with 2 stages, finishing at St.Vincent and Valsonney. Moser won the first, a young Hampsten the second, and Hinault remained leader. In the last ITT, Moser won but, with or without RAI helicopter, Hinault was the winner.
Hinault was, clearly, the strongest rider in the race. He was regular and controlled the italian teams with the powerful La Vie Claire behibd him.
Moser had shown that, with 34 years old, was still a great rider and the most complete of all italian riders. Despite this, he wasn't enough to the great Hinault.
Visentini was in good shape and led the race till the first long ITT. After thet, he disappeared and even retired when he was far behind.
Saronni was the great loser, being only 15th. Good at ITT and sprints, he lost much time in the few mountain stages, letting many people to suppose that he lost his final forces to win the 83 Giro.
ArgentÃn was in real good shape, fgighting for the sprints and a top-10 place, but he fell in the middle of the race and was forced to retire.
LeMond was preparing the Tour and helping Hinault, his result was very good and showed all of his talent.
Lejarreta suffered with the absence of high mountain stages and lost many time in the TT. He wasn't so good as usual in the mountains and was only 5th.
Prim was, as usual, very regular. Although, in a flat Giro, it would be expected that he could do more in the TT and fight for the 1st place.
Baronchelli and Contini were both far of their fitness some years ago, and rode to the top-10 and not for the 1st place, which was very bad for the race.
Volpi, Giovannetti and Chioccioli showed them as the most talented youngsters. Chioccioli won a mountain stage, but lost many time in the flat, Volpi won the classification of the neo-pros.
Navarro was a good surprise as a good climber. Won the mountain classification and realised good performances. Portuguese rider Acácio da Silva was also in good shape, doing very good riders in the medium mountain stages, but lost time and points for the mountain on the last week.
Freuler was the better sprinter. Leading the Atala team train, was only contested by Saronni, Allocchio (in good shape) and Rosola, that was far than expected. Van der Velde also fought for the points classsification, but disappeared at the last days, loosing his opportunity and showing that his days as a good climber were over.
"We all know that wasn't the real footage of the Worlds anyway. That was just the staged footage to perpetuate the coverup that it was actually Vinokourov that won the race."
Thanks. I find past cycling history fascinating
Too bad there isn't anything such as Torelli's History of the Tour, but about the Giro or Vuelta.
There's an important point buried in there, though that I'd like to clarify for everyone else:
"with or without RAI helicopter". That refers to this (which was written about the 1984 Giro, not the 1985 one, but the "stunt" the italians pulled was the same):
Fignon is an interesting character. He was nicknamed "The Professor" because of his scholarly appearance with his oval wire-framed glasses and his time in college. When interviewed in later years about his cycling accomplishments, he is strangely diffident, saying that what he did wasn't terribly important. He's rather like Marlon Brando in this way. When Brando talked about acting he would ask why there was so much fuss about such an unimportant pursuit. Both men had striven for years to become the best in the world at their craft, yet both were often oddly dismissive of the entire source of their reputations and fame. A pose? In Fignon's case, I think not. Fignon is an intelligent, thoughtful man who always had a prickly edge to his personality.
But for a couple of years, god, could he ride a bike, his own oblique, non-denial of drug use in later years notwithstanding.
Coming to the Tour, he was sporting the tricolor jersey of the Champion of France. He came in second in the Giro, losing the leader's Pink Jersey to Francesco Moser on the final day, a time trial. The Giro was clearly stolen from Fignon. The highest mountain stage was cancelled in order to keep Moser from losing gobs of time to Fignon, the superior climber. The Giro organizers claimed that snow was blocking the pass, but pictures were produced showing clear roads. Then in the time trial, Fignon was the victim of another outrage. The television helicopter flew low and in front of Fignon, creating a headwind, while Moser was followed by the helicopter, creating a tailwind. The numerous pushes Moser received from the fans when he was climbing in the high mountains were also ignored by the officials.
And that, in a nutshell, explains why the Giro is only an important regional race and the Tour de France is the Holy Grail of cycling.
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