The Stelvio myth: When a long night turns into disaster

On June 1, 1953, the “Giro d'Italia” entourage traveled to the Stelvio Pass for the first time. The Swiss Hugo Koblet wore the “pink jersey” of the overall leader for 12 stages and apparently dominated the Giro at will. The Bolzano-Stelvio Pass-Bormio stage becomes the decisive stage: at the Stilfser Joch there is a tense duel between Fausto Coppi and Hugo Koblet. The myth of “Cima Coppi” arises.

Prehistory on the Dolomite passes The stage from Auronzo to Bolzano is hard to beat in terms of excitement. The big rivals Fausto Coppi and the Swiss Hugo Koblet fight for every meter of advantage on the Dolomite passes. On the climb to the Pordoi Joch, Coppi made up time, and on the Sella Joch, Coppi even managed to outpace Koblet by 1.30 minutes. Can the tide turn in Coppi's favor again? No way: 10 kilometers before the stage finish in Bolzano, “downhill rider” Koblet is back at Coppi. A secret agreement is reached between the two: “You the stage - me the Giro - tomorrow there will be no attack”.

Gentlemen Hugo Koblet lets Fausto Coppi cross the finish line as the winner in Bolzano. But this stage win doesn't help Coppi, because Hugo Koblet keeps the “pink jersey” with a lead of 1.59 minutes over Coppi.

Bolzano: Coppi congratulates Koblet The “Giro” seems decided, Fausto Coppi beaten: The Italian congratulates his rival: “You have won the Giro”. Coppi also explains to the media that the Dolomite passes were his last chance for the “pink jersey”: “For me the Giro is over, Koblet won it, and for me it is no shame to be beaten by such a champion become."

The fans of “Campionissimo” are very disappointed because they had great hope that their idol could still win.

Swiss celebrate victory At night in Bolzano, the Swiss team apparently celebrates their “Giro victory” until late into the night. The next morning, word got around quickly. So the boss of the Bianchi racing team, Ettore Milano, personally goes to Hugo Koblet's autograph session and asks him for a souvenir photo. Hugo Koblet is wearing large, dark sunglasses. Ettore Milano asks him to take off his glasses for the photo and he can clearly see the deep circles under his tired, red eyes. This is immediately discussed in the Bianchi team - hope arises, perhaps the Giro is not yet lost?

Start in Bolzano The day is beautiful but cloudy. The tingling atmosphere that surrounds the caravan can be clearly felt. It's the big day of the Stelvio stage, the day on which the final classification of the Giro will be decided. 86 riders are still there, they start at 13.15:XNUMX p.m. at Bolzano's Mazziniplatz.

After 28 kilometers, the Giro group passes Meran, then continues through the Vinschgau, where a fresh wind blows towards the riders, which reduces the average speed to under 30km/h. There is bad news from the Stelvio: a snowstorm is on the way. The drivers from the Bianchi racing team set the pace and from Prad things get exciting: This is where the asphalt ends and a gravel road begins. It goes uphill, fir forests await, as well as high mountains with the snow-white peaks of the Ortler Group.

From Trafoi to the Stelvio Pass The group still stays together, but in front of the imposing mountain backdrop of the Ortler Group, the strategic part of the race begins at Trafoi on the first bends of the Stelvio Road: Carrea wins the intermediate destination in Trafoi ahead of Gismondi and Coppi, with Koblet and Fornara hanging on his bike , Ockers, Defilippis and Bartali. The sky has opened, a warm sun illuminates the landscape, the wind is becoming weaker. The drivers are relieved: there will be no snowstorm on the Stelvio Pass. Immediately after Trafoi, Coppi tells his young teammate Defilippis: “Make an attack now.”

The big duel Defilippis attacks and breaks away from the group, only Coppi, Koblet, Fornara, Bartali, Ockers and Ruiz follow him, but they cannot keep up the speed uphill for long. Koblet struggles desperately, but falls behind and is in trouble. Now Fausto Coppi starts sprinting. Now the “non-aggression pact” from the day before no longer applies. Unleashed, he flies up the curves of the Stelvio Pass and leaves everyone behind.

<a data-caption="Hatte bei der Stilfser-Joch-Premiere im Jahr 1953 großes Pech – vor allem auf der spektakulären Schluss-Abfahrt hinunter zum Ziel nach Bormio: Der Schweizer Ausnahmefahrer Hugo Koblet." data-fancybox="inline-166984" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2023/07/hatte-bei-der-stilfser-joch-premiere-im-jahr-1953-grosses-pech-vor-allem-auf-der-spektakulaeren-schluss-abfahrt-hinunter-zum-ziel-nach-bormio-d.jpg"> Was very unlucky at the Stelvio Pass premiere in 1953 - especially on the spectacular final descent down to the finish in Bormio: the exceptional Swiss rider Hugo Koblet.

The thousands of fans literally carry him high over the serpentines with their cheering screams. In the last corners the meter-high snow piles up, at the top of the pass at 2760 meters Fausto Coppi is welcomed and cheered by a roaring crowd, then the others follow: Fornara with 2.17 minutes behind, Bartali with + 2.48, Defilippis with + 3.27, Carrea with + 4.23 and finally Koblet. His deficit: +4.25.

Dramatic comeback The final challenge is the 22 km long descent from the Stelvio Pass to the destination Bormio. The condition of the road is difficult: not asphalted, rocky and partly with narrow, still icy curves. Fausto Coppi is a cautious skier, but 4.25 is a good cushion. Coppi knows what's at stake, he senses his chance, he's going downhill faster than usual.

“Downhill specialist” Hugo Koblet starts his race to catch up, he takes full risks: he has to brake abruptly in a curve and falls. He gets up and continues driving as if nothing had happened. Then he crashes a second time, and 7 km from the finish Koblet also has a puncture. The spare wheel is changed straight away and we move on!

Destination in Bormio While Coppi is already crossing the finish line in Bormio and is being cheered on by the enthusiastic fans, Fornara arrives 2.18 minutes behind, Bartali after 2.48 minutes and finally Koblet after 3.28 minutes. Despite his falls and the puncture, Koblet was the fastest on the descent, catching up with Coppi by 57 seconds. But that doesn’t help him – Coppi gets the “pink jersey”.

The next day, the Giro d'Italia entourage starts the last flat stage from Bormio to Milan, the group stays together and ultimately Fausto Coppi wins the Giro d'Italia for the 5th time.

Media creates the myth of “Cima Coppi” Accordingly, the media is going overboard with the events of this mythical Giro stage. Giuseppe Ambrosini, editor-in-chief of the Gazzetta dello Sport, writes: “If yesterday we experienced a truly historic hour for the Giro and for cycling on the Dolomite passes, what we experienced today on the Stelvio Pass surpassed everything in terms of nervousness , passion, fighting spirit and emotions. We suffered and rejoiced, stunned by the magnitude and beauty of this sport. We are still moved by the overwhelming natural spectacle on the Stelvio (Stelvio Pass), which has never seen a cycling race before, and the spectacle that the riders offered.”

<a data-caption="Waren bei der Eröffnung der „Cima-Coppi-Präsentation“ in der Kehre 46 in Trafoi mit dabei: Von links Silvia Cavazzi (Bürgermeisterin von Bormio), Franz Heinisch (Bürgermeister Stilfs), Faustino Coppi (Sohn von Fausto Coppi), Vito Fabiano (92-jähriger Zeitzeuge), Skilegende Gustav Thöni, Initiator Stephan Gander und Roland Brenner (Präsident der Stilfser-Joch-Gesellschaft)." data-fancybox="inline-166987" target="_image" href="https://s3-images.sportnews.bz/_images/scale/1280x1280/img/2023/07/waren-bei-der-eroeffnung-der-cima-coppi-praesentation-in-der-kehre-46-in-trafoi-mit-dabei-von-links-silvia-cavazzi-buergermeisterin-von.jpg"> Were present at the opening of the “Cima Coppi presentation” at Kehre 46 in Trafoi: From left, Silvia Cavazzi (Mayor of Bormio), Franz Heinisch (Mayor of Stilfs), Faustino Coppi (son of Fausto Coppi), Vito Fabiano ( 92-year-old contemporary witness), ski legend Gustav Thöni, initiator Stephan Gander and Roland Brenner (President of the Stelvio Joch Society).

The 1953 race gave birth to the myth of the “Cima Coppi”. In cycling circles, the Stelvio Pass is still referred to as the “Cima Coppi”. To commemorate Fausto Coppi and his heroic achievements, the highest pass crossed every year in the Giro d'Italia is called “Cima Coppi”. This climb brings the most points in the Giro mountain classification.

Exhibition in curve 46 in Trafoi In honor of the legendary Stilfser Joch premiere at the Giro d'Italia in 1953, there are 46 display boards at curve number 6 on the Stilfser Joch Road. They trace the epic stage of June 1, 1953.

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The Stelvio myth: When a long night turns into disaster

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