The Giro d’Italia is more than just a race—it’s a battlefield of heartbreaks, heroics, and head-spinning turns of fate. Over its century-plus history, the Giro has served up countless moments where one decision, one crash, or one twist of weather could have rewritten the record books. Here are five of the greatest “what if” moments in Giro history—turning points that still make fans wonder what might have been.
What if Fausto Coppi hadn’t crashed in 1946?
Giro d’Italia 1946 was the first post-war edition—a symbolic race for a recovering Italy. Fausto Coppi, already a star, was the favorite to win and restore national pride. But on the very first day, he crashed into a ditch, lost over ten minutes, and was never able to fully recover. Gino Bartali won instead, fueling their legendary rivalry.
What might have changed? Had Coppi stayed upright and won, the early narrative of the Coppi-Bartali rivalry could have tilted decisively in Coppi’s favor. That crash also delayed Coppi’s full domination by a year—and may have shaped how Italians divided their loyalties between the devout Bartali and the modern, rebellious Coppi.
What if Eddy Merckx hadn’t been expelled in 1969?
Eddy Merckx was leading Giro d’Italia 1969 in dominant fashion when he was removed from the race after a suspicious doping control, allegedly testing positive for fencamfamine. Merckx protested fiercely, and many believed the test was tampered with or politically motivated.
What might have changed? Merckx was crushing the competition and almost certainly would have won. Had he taken the maglia rosa to Milan, it would have been his second Giro victory and likely part of an unbroken run. The scandal dented the race’s credibility and raised enduring questions about how doping controls were used—or misused—in cycling politics.
What if Giuseppe Saronni had cracked in 1979?
In 1979, Saronni was young and explosive but was seen as a sprinter who couldn’t survive a three-week Grand Tour. Yet against all odds, he held on in the mountains and beat Francesco Moser to win the Giro.
What might have changed? Had Saronni cracked in the Alps—as many expected—Moser may have claimed his first Giro win earlier. That could have shifted the power dynamic between the two rivals and altered how the 1980s unfolded in Italian cycling. Instead, Saronni’s win solidified his place as Moser’s equal—and ignited one of the sport’s fiercest domestic rivalries.
What if Andy Hampsten hadn’t braved the Gavia in 1988?
Giro d’Italia 1988 featured one of the most brutal days in modern cycling history: the stage over Gavia Pass in a full snowstorm. American Andy Hampsten attacked, wearing a ski jacket and goggles, and seized the maglia rosa in almost arctic conditions. His courage and preparation on that day became legend.
What might have changed? If Hampsten had hesitated—or suffered hypothermia like so many others—he likely would have lost minutes and the Giro. Italy would have crowned another homegrown champion, and the U.S. may not have claimed its first (and still only) Giro title. Hampsten’s win also validated American cycling’s rise after LeMond’s success in France.
What if Marco Pantani hadn’t been expelled in 1999?
Pantani was riding Giro d’Italia 1999 in imperious form, having already won in 1998. With the maglia rosa on his back, he was poised to repeat—until a blood test revealed a high hematocrit level (though not officially a failed doping test), and he was expelled before Stage 21.
What might have changed? Pantani would likely have won back-to-back Giros, further elevating his myth. Instead, the scandal sent him into a spiral of depression and controversy. His legacy, once defined by explosive climbs and national pride, became overshadowed by tragedy. The 1999 Giro might mark not just a lost title, but the beginning of the end of one of Italy’s most beloved riders.
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