The 56th Giro d'Italia (18 May -9 June 1973) started with a 5,2 km long prologue from Belgium.
Triumphing at the race after winning Vuelta a Espana a few weeks earlier, Eddy Merckx became the first cyclist to manage a Vuelta-Giro double.
Merckx also managed to wear the maglia rosa from the first stage to the end.
With six stage victories, Merckx is the rider who has won the general classification by winning the most stages in the post-war period (a feat equalled by Tadej Pogačar in 2024).
José Manuel Fuente of KAS won the mountains classification.