1985 Giro D'Italia - Race Overview

Race Overview

The race started with a prologue, won by Moser. The first stage went to Freuler, one of the best sprinters at that time, and in the 3rd day a Team time trial put Saronni in the lead. Only during the 4th stage real action began, with the Sëlva climb. Hinault attacked but the winner was Hubert Seiz, while Visentini took the lead. The first long individual time trial was won by Hinault (thanks also to a mechanical problem occurred to Moser), who dressed the pink jersey as leader of the general classification. Next another flat stage, and finally the mountains, with the Gran Sasso: Chioccioli won, without any significant changes in the general classification. Ron Kiefel won the 15th stage, from L'Aquila to Perugia, becoming the first American cyclist to win a stage of a Grand Tour.

Real mountains were concentrated in the two final alpine stages, finishing at Saint-Vincent and Valnontey. Moser won the first and a young Andrew Hampsten the second. Hinault maintained the lead and controlled the race during the final stage (an individual time trial from Lido di Camaiore to Lucca).

Hinault showed that he was the strongest rider in the race: he was regular and controlled the Italian teams with his powerful team (La Vie Claire) behind him. Moser showed that at 34 he was still a great cyclist, and the most complete of all Italian riders; despite this, it wasn't enough to beat Hinault. Visentini was in good shape and led the race till the first long ITT, then got sick and was forced to retire. Saronni was the great loser: good at ITT and sprints, he was left behind in the few mountain stages, letting many people to suppose that he had used his final forces to win the 1983 Giro.

Argentin fought for the sprints and a top-10 place, but he fell in the middle of the race and eventually retired. LeMond was preparing the Tour de France and helping Hinault, his result was very good and showed all of his talent. Lejarreta suffered the absence of high mountain stages.

Prim was as usual very regular, although he would have been expected to do more in the TT and compete for 1st place. Baronchelli and Contini were both far of their fitness. Volpi, Giovannetti and Chioccioli showed a good talent (Chioccioli won a mountain stage, Volpi won the classification of the neo-pros).

José Luis Navarro was a good surprise as a climber: he won the mountains classification. Portuguese rider Acácio da Silva did well in the medium mountain stages, but lost time and points during the last week. Freuler was the best sprinter and was contested only by Saronni, Stefano Allocchio and Paolo Rosola. Van der Velde fought for the points classification, but disappeared during the last mountain stages.