1956 Giro d'Italia
The 1956 Giro d'Italia was the 39th edition of the Giro d'Italia, one of cycling's Grand Tours. The Giro started off in Milan on 19 May with a 210 km (130.5 mi) flat stage and concluded back in Milan with a 113 km (70.2 mi) relatively flat mass-start stage on 10 June. Sixteen teams entered the race, which was won by Luxembourgian Charly Gaul of the Faema team. Second and third respectively were Italian riders Fiorenzo Magni and Agostino Coletto.
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| Dates | 19 May - 10 June 1956 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stages | 22, including one split stage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance | 3,523.45 km (2,189 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Winning time | 101h 39' 46" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Gaul took the lead in the legendary stage up Monte Bondone, where under a snow storm he won with an 8-minute margin over runner up Alessandro Fantini. This edition is unique since there were two Mountains Classification winners. There were two awards for the Dolomites and the Apennine mountains, the winners were Charly Gaul and Federico Bahamontes respectively.