It was the famous 254 km long 17th stsge between Cuneo and Pinerolo. The program included five major mountain passes: Maddalena, Vars, Izoard, Montgenèvre, and Sestriere. But what transformed this already brutal stage into legend was the solitary ride of Fausto Coppi.
Early in the stage, Coppi attacked, some say as early as the Maddalena Pass, and rode alone for nearly 190 kilometers. Over the course of the day, he ascended over 4,000 meters of vertical climbing without teammates, mechanical support, or modern nutrition.
As Coppi crested the barren slopes of the Col d’Izoard, he was already minutes ahead of the peloton. Behind him, his greatest rival Gino Bartali, fought to limit the damage.
By the time Coppi crossed the finish line in Pinerolo, he had gained 11 minutes and 52 seconds over Bartali, essentially clinching the Giro d’Italia with four stages to spare.