May 2013 Giro d'Italia Trivia with Answers

Ryder Hesjedal during the 2012 Giro d'Italia- Photo via Castelli

May 2013

In a few short days, The Giro d’Italia will commence for the 100^th time.

This months Dave Campbell's Trivia Column celebrates the historic accomplishments

Of North American Riders in the Race for the Maglia Rosa (Pink Jersey)

Q1. Canadian Ryder Hesjedal re-wrote the history books with his historic Giro d’Italia victory last year. Prior to the Garmin-Sharp rider’s triumph, what was the highest ever finish for a Canadian in Italy’s grand tour?

Q2. The only American to win the Giro was Andrew Hampsten (7-Eleven/Hoonved) in 1988. Much has been written, including pieces by Bob Roll and Bicyclinghub.com’s own Doug Duguay, about his exploits on the Gavia. Despite putting over 5 minutes into all the main contenders except Erik Breukink (Panasonic), he did not win the stage, losing by 7 seconds to Breukink. Did Hampsten win any stages enroute to this historic achievement?

Q3. Other than Andy’s Pink jersey, have any other Giro leaders' jerseys been won by American riders?
 

A1. Steve Bauer, riding as team captain for Toshiba-Look (formerly La Vie Claire) was 10^th in the 1987 Giro, 14:41 down on victor Stephen Roche (Carrera-Inoxpran) of Ireland.

A2. He did! The first was the 205 km 12^th stage on June 3^rd from Novara-Selvino. Hampsten broke away in the company of future Tour de France winner Pedro Delgado of Spain (Reynolds). The Colorado rider dropped him on the finish climb which rises 3000 feet about Bergamo to move within striking distance of the lead which he would take on Stage 14 over the Gavia. He also won the 18 kilometer Stage 18 Uphill Time Trial from Valico del Vitriolo.

A3. In 1988’s storming performance, Hampsten also took home the Combine Jersey and Mountains (then Blue, Green from the early 90s until recently returning to Blue) Jerseys. He was additionally 3^rd in the Points Competition.

Celebrating and Remembering "The Professor," Laurent Fignon

Test Your Knowledge of "The Professor"

By guest columnist Dave Campbell

An amazing rider of courage, style, and panache, Frenchman Laurent Fignon has left us too soon, passing away on Tuesday, August 31st after an egregious battle with cancer. A rider who really only had a few peak years due to injury, when he was ON he was ON. Capable of winning short or long stage races, mountains or flat, Classics of all variety, he was a Campionissimo. And, as a coach told me so memorably when I was a junior, he ALWAYS, ALWAYS LOOKED COOL!!! Sadly, his career was as abbreviated as his life. Struck down by cancer at only 50 years of age, he had the courage to not only write his life story but ask the tough questions near the end. Did his use of performance enhancing drugs play a role? No one can know. Raced with his heart and no regrets, lived that way to the end. He left us with stunning images, memories, inspiration, and performances…that much is clear!

Let’s celebrate and remember…THE PROFESSOR

QUESTIONS:

Q1. Only two riders have ever won the Triple Crown, Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987). Precious little has been written about how close Fignon came to ALSO accomplishing this feat! When? HOW CLOSE?

Q2. Laurent Fignon won all of the following Classics except: Fleche Wallone, Milan San Remo, Paris-Tours, Paris-Camembert, Gran Prix des Nations. BONUS: Describe the circumstances of his near win in the “one he missed”!

Q3. Fignon triumphed in ALL of the following stage races EXCEPT one: Tour de France, Criterium International, Dauphine Libere, Giro d’ Italia, Ruta Mexico, Tour of Holland (now the Eneco Tour Benelux).

BONUS: Name all the major stage races where The Professor won a stage!

How many did you answer correctly? Let's have a look...

ANSWERS:

A1. 1989. Fignon won the Giro in front of Flavio Giuponni and American Andy Hampsten then went on to place second in that famous Tour de France to American Greg Lemond by the precious EIGHT seconds. In the Worlds Road Race, then contested in August in Chambery, France he attacked out of the lead group of six with one kilometer to go, only to have Lemond chase him down, catching him at 400 meters to go. WOW. WHAT A CHAMPION!

A2. He did NOT win Paris-Tours (then Creteil-Cheville) in 1982 DESPITE being over a minute clear with 10 km left to race and storming to what seemed a certain victory. He broke his bottom bracket spindle (A Campagnolo Super Record Titanium model) suddenly and abruptly and found himself dramatically and violently dumped onto the tarmac! This failure prompted Campy to sell Super Record PRO grouppos (no titanium spindles in either BBs or pedals) in coming years and to put all Pro riders onto steel spindles (Nuovo Record level components).

A3. The Dauphine was the only one he didn’t win, although he did win a stage there in 1986, part of his “lost years” (1985 to 1988) impacted by injury.

BONUS: Tours of France, Italy, AND Spain. Paris Nice, Tirreno Adriatico, Criterium International, & the Dauphine Libere. In other words, every major stage race in the world save the Tour de Suisse and the Tour Pays Basque.