Dates 10 May - 1 June Distance 3,613 km (2,245 mi) Winner Giuseppe Enrici (ITA) | Stages 12 Winning time 143h 43' 37" Second Federico Gay (ITA) | |
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The 1924 Giro d'Italia was the 12th edition of the Giro d'Italia, a cycling race organized and sponsored by the newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport. The race began on 10 May in Milan with a stage that stretched 300.3 km (187 mi) to Genoa, finishing back in Milan on 1 June after a 313 km (194 mi) stage and a total distance covered of 3,613 km (2,245 mi). The race was won by the Italian rider Giuseppe Enrici. Second and third respectively were the Italian riders Federico Gay and Angiolo Gabrielli.
Contents
The 'start list' was reduced because of a strike, so the organiser Gazzetta dello Sport allowed independent riders to enter without support teams, as they provided bed, board and massage. The event was unique because of the participation of Alfonsina Strada, the only female competitor in the history of the Giro. Entry number 72 was granted to Alfonsin Strada to conceal her gender. She successfully completed the first 7 stages but a series of crashes and punctures between L'Aquila and Perugia led to her exclusion (such was her heroism that the organisers allowed her to continue each stage without inclusion in the overall classification). Her final time was 20 hours behind of the first classified in Milan.
Participants
Of the 90 riders that began the Giro d'Italia on 10 May, 30 of them made it to the finish in Milan on 1 June. The riders were all considered to be independent as many riders were in disagreement with their teams over money.
The peloton was completely composed of Italians. Notable riders that started the race included Giuseppe Enrici, Federico Gay and Bartolomeo Aymo. Former winners Costante Girardengo and Giovanni Brunero, along with Ottavio Bottecchia, Gaetano Belloni, and other top riders chose not participate in the race due to disagreements over money with their teams.
The 1924 edition of the race saw the first and only ever woman participate. Alfonsina Strada entered the race as "Alfonsin Strada" to conceal her gender. Strada completed the first seven stages before being eliminated. The organizers, however, asked her to continue riding to the race's finish since so many people came out to witness the female rider.
General classification
There were 30 cyclists who had completed all twelve stages. For these cyclists, the times they had needed in each stage was added up for the general classification. The cyclist with the least accumulated time was the winner.