ANSWERS:
A1. It has been a while! 1983 to be exact! Italian hero Giuseppe Saronni was on the tail end of an incredible run of home soil success. The run started in 1982 in Goodwood, England when “Beppe” won the World title and continued through Italy’s biggest races: the 1982 Tour of Lombardy, the 1983 Milan-San Remo, and finally when winning the Giro in the rainbow jersey in 1983.
A2. It is not Eddy Merckx, although “The Cannibal” won the Giro in 1968, 1970, and 1972-74. The most recent Belgian was Johan de Muynck in 1978.
A3. 2016 when now retired Vincenzo Nibali notched his second and final win. Although there have been Italian winners in the Points and Mountain competitions recently, it is difficult to foresee another Italian winner anytime soon.
A4. Not surprisingly to anyone who has watched women’s cycling in the last decade or two, The Netherlands tops the winners list with ten victories over the thirty-three editions. The Dutch are six for six on the most recent editions. The US, ranks third all-time, with three victories by two different riders (Mara Abbott and Megan Guarnier). Astute followers will remember the US men have only won once…in 1988 with Andy Hampsten!
A5. In this case it is an Italian affair…Fabiana Luperini won five editions! 1995-98 consecutively and then on a comeback in 2008!
A6. Greg Lemond was 3rd in 1985, Hampsten was 3rd in 1987, and Tyler Hamilton was 2nd in 2002.
A7. The last time one rider claimed both GC and points competitions was 2011. Italian Michele Scarponi, tragically killed in 2017, inherited both the victory and the points competition in 2012 when Spaniard Alberto Contador was disqualified for doping.
