1988 Giro d'Italia

71st edition: May 23 - June 12

Results, stages with running GC, map, photos, video and history

1987 Giro | 1989 Giro | Giro d'Italia Database | 1988 Giro Quick Facts | 1988 Giro d'Italia Final GC | Stage results with running GC | The Story of the 1988 Giro d'Italia | Video

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1988 Giro Quick Facts:

3,579 kilometers raced at an average speed of 36.79 km/hr

180 starters and 125 classified finishers

Franco Chioccioli took the lead by 33 seconds over Urs Zimmerman after the hilly stage 12.

The weather that year was terrible and especially so in stage 14, which included a horrible, frozen ascent and descent of the Gavia Pass.

Most of the team directors failed to have warm clothing and drinks for their riders, but 7-Eleven's Mike Neel was ready.

Andy Hampsten still had a harrowing ride, but nothing like what Franco Chioccioli, the maglia rosa, had to suffer. Chioccioli had no warm gloves, jersey or hat.

Hampsten took the lead after stage 14 and held it to the end, making him the Giro's only American winner.

Les Woodland's book The Olympics' 50 Craziest Stories: A Five Ring Circus is available as an audiobook here.

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1988 Giro d'Italia Complete Final General Classification:

1. Andrew Hampsten (7-Eleven) 97hr 18min 56sec
2. Erik Breukink (Panasonic) @ 1min 43sec
3. Urs Zimmermann (Carrera) 2min 45sec
4. Flavio Giupponi (Del Tongo) @ 6min 56sec
5. Franco Chioccioli (Del Tongo) @ 13min 20sec
6. Marco Giovannetti (Gis Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe) @ 15mn 20sec
7. Pedro Delgado (Reynolds) @ 17min 2sec
8. Peter Winnen (Panasonic) @ 18min 14sec
9. Stefano Tomasini (Fanini-7 Up) @ 27min 1sec
10. Maurizio Vandelli (Atala-Ofmega) @ 27min2sec
11. Beat Breu (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 28min 17sec
12. Marc Madiot (Toshiba) s.t.
13. Roberto Visentini (Carrera) @ 40min 7sec
14. Raul Alcala (7-Eleven) @ 20min 9sec
15. Franco Vona (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 43min 31sec
16. Juan Tomas Martinez (Zahor Chocolates) @ 49min 12sec
17. Guy Nulens (Panasonic) @ 53min 49sec
18. Massimo Ghirotto (Carrera) @ 54min 48sec
19. Alberto Volpi (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 55min 5sec
20. Emanuele Bombini (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 55min 33sec
21. Ennio Vanotti (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 57min 39sec
22. Silvano Contini (Malvor-Sidi) @ 58min 12sec
23. Helmut Wechselberger (Malvor-Sidi) @ 59min 17sec
24. Claudio Chiappucci (Carrera) @ 1hr 1min 11sec
25. Marco Franceschini (Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec) @ 1hr 1min 22sec
26. Marino Amadori (Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam) @ 1hr 2min 42sec
27. Giuseppe Saronni (Del Tongo) @ 1hr 3min 28sec
28. Claudio Savini (Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec) @ 1hr 4min 10sec
29. Angelo Lecchi (Del Tongo) @ 1hr 4min 38sec
30. José Luis Laguia (Reynolds) @ 1hr 6min 55sec
31. Alfio Vandi (Isoglass-EVS-Robland) @ 1hr 8min 58sec
32. Luis Javier Lukin (Reynolds) @ 1hr 10min 21sec
33. Roberto Conti (Selca-Ciclolinea-Conti) @ 1hr 11min 30sec
34. Mauro Antonio Santoromita (Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec) @ 1hr 11min 35sec
35. Marco Vitali (Atala-Ofmega) @ 1hr 12min 7sec
36. Luciano Loro (Del Tongo) @ 1hr 14min 58sec
37. Fabrice Philipot (Toshiba) @ 1hr 15min 40sec
38. Dominique Arnaud (Reynolds) @ 1hr 17min 24sec
39. Marcello Siboni (Ariostea) @ 1hr 18min 7sec
40. Santiago Portillo (Zahor Chocolates) @ 1hr 18min 43sec
41. Massimo Podenzana (Atala-Ofmega) @ 1hr 18min 57sec
42. Rolf Sørensen (Ariostea) @ 1hr 20min 51sec
43. Werner Stutz (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 1hr 25min 51sec
44. Tony Rominger (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 1hr 27min 44sec
45. Jesus Rodriguez-Magro (Reynolds) @ 1hr 28min 15sec
46. Jeff Pierce (7-Eleven) @ 1hr 28min 46sec
47. Omar Hernandez (Reynolds) @ 1hr 29min 13sec
48. Rolf Jaermann (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 1hr 35min 20sec
49. Roberto Pagnin (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 1hr 35min 26sec
50. Gianni Faresin (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 1hr 36min 2sec
51. Enrico Galleschi (Albacucine-Benottto-Sidermec) @ 1hr 38min 24sec
52. Luca Rota (Del Tongo) @ 1hr 39min 51sec
53. Luciano Rabottini (Ariostea) @ 1hr 43min 42sec
54. Claudio Corti (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 1hr 44min 22sec
55. Jörg Müller (PDM) @ 1hr 46min 21sec
56. Stefano Giuliani (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 1hr 48min 10sec
57. Teun Van Vliet (Panasonic) @ 1hr 48min 15sec
58. Daniel Wyder (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 1hr 49min 10sec
59. Michele Moro (Selca-Ciclolinea-Conti) @ 1hr 50min 43sec
60. Jiri Skoda (Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam) @ 1hr 51min 1sec
61. Bob Roll (7-Eleven) @ 1hr 52min 7sec
62. Ron Kiefel (7-Eleven) @ 1hr 52min 21sec
63. Renato Piccolo (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 1hr 54min 48sec
64. Giampaolo Fregonese (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 1hr 55min 10sec
65. Johan Van der Velde (Gis Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe) @ 1hr 56min 27sec
66. Marc Van Orsouw (PDM) @ 1hr 57min 15sec
67. Pierino Gavazzi (Fanini-7 Up) @ 2hr 0min 43sec
68. Jesper Worre (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 2hr 5min 18sec
69. Henk Lubberding (Panasonic) @ 2hr 5min 19sec
70. Maurizio Piovani (Del Tongo) @ 2hr 6min 11sec
71. Kurt Steinmann (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 2hr 7min 12sec
72. Bruno Hurlimann (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 2hr 9min 36sec
73. Ennio Salvador (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 2hr 9min 45sec
74. Lech Piasecki (Del Tongo) @ 2hr 9min 56sec
75. Eric Vanderaerden (Panasonic) @ 2hr 10min 16sec
76. Alessandro Pozzi (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 2hr 13min 8sec
77. Luigi Botteon (Fanini-7 Up) @ 2hr 13min 19sec
78. Marco-Franco Votolo (Carrera) @ 2hr 13min 45sec
79. Theo De Rooy (Panasonic) @ 2hr 15min 33sec
80. Czeslaw Lang (Del Tongo) @ 2hr 16min 48sec
81. Daniele Pozzol (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 2hr 18min 42sec
82. Urs Freuler (Panasonic) @ 2hr 18min 50sec
83. Marco Zen (Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam) @ 2hr 18min 56sec
84. Fabio Bordonali (Carrera) @ 2hr 19min 32sec
85. Silvano Lorenzon (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 2hr 19min 36sec
86. Alberto Elli (Fanini-7 Up) @ 2hr 20min 44sec
87. Tullio Cortinovis (Atala-Ofmega) s.t.
88. Francesco Cesarini (Ariostea) @ 2hr 24min 30sec
89. Claudio Vandelli (Atala-Ofmega) @ 2hr 26min 55sec
90. Federico Ghiotto (Gis Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe) @ 2hr 31mn 27sec
91. Guido Bontempi (Carrera) @ 2hr 31min 47sec
92. Daniel Gisiger (Cyndarella-Isotonic) @ 2hr 32min 38sec
93. Marco Saligari (Ariostea) @ 2hr 35min 11sec
94. Jesus Suarez-Cueva (Zahor Chocolates) @ 2hr 38min 16sec
95. Fabrizio Vanucci (Selca-Ciclolinia-Conti) @ 2hr 40min 11sec
96. Mario Noris (Atala-Ofmega) @ 2hr 42min 20sec
97. Luigi Furlan (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 2hr 45min 16sec
98. Melchior Mauri (Reynolds) @ 2hr 45min 59sec
99. Arno Wohlfahrter (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 2hr 49min 4sec
100. Valerio Piva (Ariostea) @ 2hr 49min 37sec
101. Pierangelo Bincoletto (Toshiba) @ 2hr 50min 10sec
102. Paolo Rosola (Gewiss-Bianchi) @ 2hr 55min 6sec
103. Alan Peiper (Panasonic) @ 2hr 56min 48sec
104. Flavio Chesini (Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec) @ 2hr 57min 52sec
105. Johan Lammerts (Toshiba) @ 2hr 58min 24sec
106. Giuseppe Petito (Gis Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe) @ 2hr 59min 41sec
107. Silvio Martinello (Atala-Ofmega) @ 3hr 5min 27sec
108. Luciano Boffo (Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam) @ 3hr 7min 25sec
109. Alessio Di Basco (Fanini-7 Up) @ 3hr 7min 48sec
110. Giovanni Strazzer (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 3hr 8min 59sec
111. Edoardo Rocchi (Selca-Ciclolinea-Conti) @ 3hr 10min 13sec
112. Antonio Ferretti (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 3hr 11min 2sec
113. Daniele Del Ben (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 3hr 11min 7sec
114. Stefano Allocchio (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 3hr 17min 0sec
115. Paul Popp (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 3hr 21min 13sec
116. Daniele Caroli (Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam) @ 3hr 29min 30sec
117. Luc Ronsse (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 3hr 34min 56sec
118. Davis Phinney (7-Eleven) @ 3hr 40min 27sec
119. Jan-Erik Ostergaard (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 3hr 43min 0sec
120. Patrizio Gambriasio (Selca-Ciclolinea-Conti) @ 3hr 46min 39sec
121. Giovanni Bottoia (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 3hr 48min 51sec
122. Enrico Grimani (Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec) @ 3hr 52min 1sec
123. Geert Vandewalle (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 4hr 6min 47sec
124. Hendrik Redant (Isoglass-EVS-Robland-Galli) @ 4hr 19min 36sec
125. Dante Morandi (Selca-Ciclilinea-Conti) @ 4hr 48min 15sec

Points Classification:

1. Johan Van der Velde (Gis-Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe): 154 points
2. Rolf Sørensen (Ariostea): 131
3. Andrew Hampsten (7-Eleven): 128
4. Alessio Di Bascco (Fanini-7 Up): 117
5. Erik Breukink (Panasonic): 115

Climbers' Competition:

1. Andrew Hampsten (7-Eleven): 59 points
2. Stefano Giuliani (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti): 55
3. Renato Piccolo (Geweiss-Bianchi): 49
4. Urs Zimmermann (Carrera): 40
5. Tony Rominger (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti): 23

Young Rider:

1. Stefano Tomasini (Fanini-7 Up) 97hr 45min 57sec
2. Franco Vona (Chateau d'Ax-Salotti) @ 15min 30sec
3. Helmut Wechselberger (Malvor-Bottecchia) @ 32min 16sec
4. Angelo Lecchi (Del Tongo) @ 37min 37sec
5. Luis Javier Lukin (Reynolds) @ 43min 20sec

Team Classification:

1. Carrera: 291hr 19min 15sec
2. Panasonic @ 4min 34sec
3. Del Tongo @ 9min 56sec

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1988 Giro stage results with running GC:

Monday, May 23: Stage 1, Urbino 9 km individual time trial (cronometro)

1. Jean-François Bernard: 13min 7sec
2. Tony Rominger @ 3sec
3. Lech Piasecki @ 6sec
4. Erik Breukink @ 8sec
5. Erich Maechler s.t.
6. Roberto Visentini @ 9sec
7. Guido Bontempi @ 13sec
8. Roberto Pagnin s.t.
9. Giuseppe Saronni @ 16sec
10. Jörg Müller @ 18sec

Tuesday, May 24: Stage 2, Urbino - Ascoli Piceno, 230 km

Major ascents: Santa Vittoria in Matenano, Casale

1. Guido Bontempi: 6hr 20min 56sec
2. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
3. Paolo Rosola s.t.
4. Alessio Di Basco s.t.
5. Roberto Pagnin s.t.
6. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
7. Urs Freuler s.t.
8. Fabrice Philippot s.t.
9. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.
10. Pierino Gavazzi s.t.

GC after Stage 2:

1. Jean-François Bernard: 6hr 33min 43sec
2. Tony Rominger @ 8sec
3. Guido Bontempi @ 13sec
4. Lech Piasecki @ 16sec
5. Erik Breukink, Erich Maechler @ 28sec
7. Roberto Visentini @ 29sec
8. Robert Pagnin @ 33sec
9. Giuseppe Saronni @ 36sec
10. Jörg Müller @ 38sec

Wednesday, May 25: Stage 3, Ascoli Piceno - Vasto, 184 km

Major ascent: Atri

1. Stephan Joho: 4hr 35min 47sec
2. Emanuele Bombini s.t.
3. Fabio Bordonali s.t.
4. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
5. Guido Bontempi @ 6sec
6. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.
7. Andreas Kappes s.t.
8. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
9. Davis Phinney s.t.
10. Urs Freuler s.t.

GC after Stage 3:

1. Jean-François Bernard: 11hr 9min 36sec
2. Tony Rominger @ 8sec
3. Guido Bontempi @ 13sec
4. Lech Piasecki @ 16sec
5. Erik Breukink, Erich Maechler @ 28sec
7. Stephan Joho, Roberto Visentini @ 29sec
9. Guido Bontempi, Robert Pagnin @ 33sec

Thursday, May 26: Stage 4A, Vasto - Rodi Garganica, 123 km

1. Massimo Podenzana: 2hr 50min 25sec
2. Stefano Tomasini @ 5min 13sec
3. Enrico Galleschi s.t.
4. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
5. Adriano Baffi @ 5min 18sec
6. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
7. Alessio Di Basco s.t.
8. Stephan Joho s.t.
9. Flavio Chesini s.t.
10. Luciano Boffo s.t.

GC after Stage 4A:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 14hr 0min 47sec
2. Jean-François Bernard @ 4min 32sec
3. Tony Rominger @ 4min 40sec
4. Guido Bontempi @ 4min 45sec
5. Lech Piasecki @ 4min 48sec
6. Erich Maechler, Erik Breukink @ 5min 0sec
8. Stephan Joho, Roberto Visentini @ 5min 1sec
10. Roberto Pagnin, Emanuele Bombini @ 5min 5sec

Thursday, May 26: Stage 4B: Rodi Garganico - Vieste 40 km team time trial (cronometro a squadre)

1. Del Tongo (Saronni, Piasecki, Lecchi, Giupponi, Loro, Chioccioli, Rota): 50min 30sec
2. Carrera @ 11sec
3. Gewiss-Bianchi @ 57sec
4. Cyndarella-Isotonic @ 59sec
5. Panasonic @ 1min 6sec
6. Gis Gelati-Ecoflam-Jolly Scarpe @ 1min 11sec
7. Chateau d'Ax-Salotti @ 1min 12sec
8. Ariostea @ 1min 31sec
9. 7-Eleven @ 1min 36sec
10. PDM s.t.
11. Reynolds @ 1min 37sec
12. Alba Cucine-Benotto-Sidermec @ 1min 40sec
13. Malvor-Bottecchia @ 1min 49sec
14. Toshiba @ 1min 59sec
15. Alfa Lum-Legnano-Ecoflam @ 2min 13sec

GC after Stage 4B:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 14hr 53min 53sec
2. Lech Piasecki @ 2min 12sec
3. Giuseppe Saronni @ 2min 32sec
4. Erich Maechler @ 2min 35sec
5. Franco Chioccioli, Roberto Visentini @ 2min 36sec
7. Flavio Giupponi @ 2min 39sec
8. Fabio Bordonali @ 2min 41sec
9. Massimo Ghirotto @ 2min 46sec
10. Urs Zimmermann @ 2min 47sec

Friday, May 27: Stage 5, Vieste - Santa Maria Capua Vetere, 260 km

Major ascent: Buonalbergo

1. Guido Bontempi: 7hr 21min 42sec
2. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
3. Stefan Allocchio s.t.
4. Alessio Di Basco s.t.
5. Adriano Baffi s.t.
6. Flavio Chesini s.t.
7. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
8. Andreas Kappes s.t.
9. Luciano Boffo s.t.
10. Urs Freuler s.t.

GC after Stage 5:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 22hr 16min 17sec
2. Massimo Ghirotto @ 2min 4sec
3. Lexh Piasecki @ 2min 12sec
4. Giuseppe Saronni @ 2min 32sec
5. Erich Maechler @ 2min 35sec
6. Franco Chioccioli, Roberto Visentini @ 2min 36sec
8. Flavio Giupponi @ 2 min 39sec
9. Fabio Bordonali @ 2min 41sec
10. Roberto Pagnin @ 2min 44sec

Saturday, May 28: Stage 6, Santa Maria Capua Vetere - Campitello Matese, 137 km

Major ascents: Miralago, Sella di Perrone, Campitello Matese

1. Franco Chioccioli: 3hr 37min 58sec
2. Andrew Hampsten @ 12sec
3. Urs Zimmermann s.t.
4. Tony Rominger @ 23sec
5. Silvano Contini s.t.
6. Erik Breukink @ 31sec
7. Emanuele Bombini @ 35sec
8. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
9. Franco Vona s.t.
10. Stefano Tomasini s.t.

GC after Stage 6:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 26hr 10min 13sec
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 45sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 18sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 40sec
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 43sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 2min 8sec
7. Erik Breukink @ 2min 30sec
8. Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 38sec
9. Beat Breu @ 2min 40sec
10. Luca Rota @ 2min 54sec

Sunday, May 29: Stage 7, Campitello Matese - Avessano, 178 km

Major ascents: Macerone, Rionero Sannitico, Roccaraso, Caruso

1. Andreas Kappes: 4hr 30min 17sec
2. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
3. Luciano Boffo s.t.
4. Flavio Chesini s.t.
5. Claudio Corti s.t.
6. Pierino Gavazzi s.t.
7. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.
8. Lech Piasecki s.t.
9. Emanuele Bombini s.t.
10. Giuseppe Petito s.t.

GC after stage 7:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 30hr 40min 20sec
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 45sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1mn 18sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 40sec
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 43sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 2min 8sec
7. Erik Breukink, Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 30sec
9. Beat Breu @ 2min 40sec
10. Luca Rota @ 2min 54sec

Monday, May 30: Stage 8, Avezzano - Chianciano Terme, 251 km

Major ascents: Monte Nibbio

1. Jean-François Bernard: 6hr 46min 0sec
2. Andreas Kappes @ 20sec
3. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
4. Benny Van Brabant s.t.
5. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
6. Flavio Chesini s.t.
7. Francesco Cesarini s.t.
8. Claudio Chiappucci s.t.
9. Pierini Gavazzi s.t.
10. Claudio Corti s.t.

GC after Stage 8:

1. Massimo Podenza: 37hr 34min 56sec
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 46sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 18sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 40sec
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 43sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 2min 8sec
7. Jean-François Bernard @ 2min 11sec
8. Erik Breukink @ 2min 30sec
9. Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 38sec
10. Johan Van der Velde @ 2min 49sec

Tuesday, May 31: Stage 9, Pienza - Marina di Massa, 235 km

1. Alessio Di Basco: 6hr 9min 20sec
2. Guido Bontempi s.t.
3. Urs Freuler s.t.
4. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
5. Patrizio Gambirasio s.t.
6. Silvio Martinello s.t.
7. Giovanni Strazzer s.t.
8. Flavio Chesini s.t.
9. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
10. Davis Phinney s.t.

GC after Stage 9:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 43hr 44min 16sec
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 46sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 18sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 40sec
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 43sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 2min 8sec
7. Jean-François Bernard @ 2min 11sec
8. Erik Breukink @ 2min 30sec
9. Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 38sec
10. Johan Van der Velde @ 2min 46sec

Wednesday, June 1: Stage 10, Carrara - Salsomaggiore, 190 km

Major ascent: Passo dello Cisa

1. Paolo Rosola: 5hr 11min 4sec
2. Adriano Baffi s.t.
3. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
4. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
5. Eric Vanderaerden s.t.
6. Davis Phinney s.t.
7. Stefano Colagè s.t.
8. Luciano Boffo s.t.
9. Teun Van Vliet s.t.
10. Rolf Jaermann s.t.

GC after Stage 10:

1. Massimo Podenzana: 48hr 55min 20sec
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 45sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 18sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 40sec
5. FLavio Giupponi @ 1min 43sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 2min 8sec
7. Jean-François Bernard @ 2min 11sec
8. Erik Breukink @ 2min 30sec
9. Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 33sec
10. Johan Van der Velde @ 2min 46sec

Thursday, June 2: Stage 11, Parma - Colle Don Bosco, 229 km

Stage anulled because of bad weather. All riders given the same placing and a time of 6hr 10min 57sec except Roy Knickman, who was placed 163rd @ 3min 34sec. Massimo Podenzana remains the leader.

Friday, June 3: Stage 12, Novara - Selvino, 205 km

Major ascents: Valpiana, Resegone, Berbenno, Selvino

1. Andrew Hampsten: 5hr 53min 10sec
2. Pedro Delgado @ 11sec
3. Alberto Volpi @ 13sec
4. Maurizio Vandelli s.t
5. Erik Breukink @ 15sec
6. Roberto Conti s.t.
7. Jean-François Bernard s.t.
8. Roberto Visentini s.t.
9. Marc Madiot s.t.
10. Urs Zimmermann s.t.
11. Franco Chioccioli s.t.
12. Giuseppe Saronni @ 27sec

GC after Stage 12:

1. Franco Chioccioli: 61hr 0min 27sec
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 33sec
3. Roberto Visentini @ 55sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 10sec
5. Andrew Hampsten @ 1min 18sec
6. Jean-François Bernard @ 1min 26sec
7. Erik Breukink @ 1min 45sec
8. Beat Breu @ 2min 49sec
9. Marco Giovannetti @ 3min 7sec
10. Giuseppe Saronni @ 3min 25sec

Saturday, June 4: Stage 13, Bergamo - Chiesa Valmalenco, 129 km

Major ascents: San Marco, Chiesa Valmalenco

1. Tony Rominger: 3hr 26min 56sec
2. Stefano Giuliani @ 4min 13sec
3. Vandelli (Maurizio? or Claudio?) @ 4min 16sec
4. Omar Hernandez @ 4min 22sec
5. Giuseppe Saronni s.t.
6. Benny Van Brabant s.t.
7. Massimo Ghirotti s.t.
8. Pedro Delgado s.t.
9. Erik Breukink s.t.
10. Jean-François Bernard s.t.

GC after Stage 13:

1. Franco Chioccioli: 64hr 31min 45sec
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 33sec
3. Roberto Visentini @ 55sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 1min 10sec
5. Andrew Hampsten @ 1min 18sec
6. Jean-François Bernard @ 1min 26sec
7. Erik Breukink @ 1min 45sec
8. Beat Breu @ 2min 48sec
9. Marco Giovannetti @ 3min 7sec
10. Giuseppe Saronni @ 3min 25sec

Sunday, June 5: Stage 14, Chiesa Valmalenco - Bormio, 120 km

Major Ascents: Aprica, Gavia

1. Erik Breukink: 3hr 53min 12sec
2. Andrew Hampsten @ 7sec
3. Roberto Tomasini @ 4min 39sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 4min 55sec
5. Marco Giovannetti @ 4min 58sec
6. Urs Zimmermann @ 5min 2sec
7. Franco Chioccioli @ 5min 4sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 5min 14sec
9. Sergio Finazzi @ 7mn 4sec
10. Pedro Delgado @ 7min 8sec

GC after Stage 14:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 68hr 26min 7sec
2. Erik Breukink @ 15sec
3. Franco Chioccioli @ 3min 54sec
4. Urs Zimmermann @ 4min 25sec
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 4min 55sec
6. Marco Giovannetti @ 6min 55sec
7. Peter Winnen @ 8min 23sec
8. Roberto Tomasini @ 8min 48sec
9. Jean-François Bernard @ 9min 37sec
10. Beat Breu @ 10min 19sec

Monday, June 6: Stage 15, Bormio - Merano, 83 km

Major ascent: Merano

1. Jean-François Bernard: 2hr 7min 0sec
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 32sec
3. Flavio Giupponi @ 36sec
4. Andrew Hampsten @ 52sec
5. Erik Breukink @ 1min 19sec
6. Roberto Conti @ 2min 44sec
7. Juan-Tomas Martinez @ 2min 48sec
8. Pedro Delgado s.t.
9. José-Luis Laguia @ 3min 0sec
10. Franco Vona @ 3min 3sec

GC after Stage 15:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 70hr 33min 59sec
2. Erik Breukink @ 42sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 3min 50sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 4min 29sec
5. Franco Chioccioli @ 6min 15sec
6. Jean-François Bernard @ 8min 25sec
7. Marco Giovannetti @ 11min 1sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 11min 43sec
9. Roberto Tomasini @ 12min 31sec
10. Pedro Delgado @ 12min 37sec

Tuesday, June 7: Stage 16, Merano - Innsbruck, 176 km

Major ascents: Rombo, Mosern

1. Franco Vona: 5hr 7min 7sec
2. Marco Vitali @ 4sec
3. Enrico Galleschi s.t.
4. Marco Giovannetti s.t.
5. Ennio Vanotti s.t.
6. Erik Breukink s.t.
7. Andrew Hampsten s.t.
8. Peter Winnen s.t.
9. Pedro Delgado s.t.
10. Johan Van der Velde @ 12sec

GC after Stage 16:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 75hr 41min 10sec
2. Erik Breukink @ 42sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 3min 58sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 4min 37sec
5. Franco Chioccioli @ 6min 26sec
6. Jean-François Bernard @ 8min 33sec
7. Marco Giovannetti @ 11min 1sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 11min 43sec
9. Pedro Delgado @ 12min 37sec
10. Roberto Tomasini @ 18min 50sec

Wednesday, June 8: Stage 17, Innsbruck - Borgo Valsugana, 221 km

Major ascents: Europabrücke, Passo del Brennero

1. Patrizio Gambirasio: 5hr 30min 39sec
2. Stefan Allocchio s.t.
3. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
4. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
5. Paul Popp s.t.
6. Flavio Chesini s.t.
7. Luciano Boffo s.t.
8. Fabio Bordonali s.t.
9. Dante Morandi s.t.
10. Jesus Suarez-Cueva s.t.

GC after Stage 17:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 81hr 11min 49sec
2. Erik Breukink @ 42sec
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 3min 58sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 6min 27sec
5. Frano Chioccioli @ 6min 27sec
6. Jean-François Bernard @ 8min 33sec
7. Marco Giovannetti 2 11min 1sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 11min 43sec
9. Pedro Delgado @ 12min 37sec
10. Roberto Tomasini @ 18min 50sec

Thursday, June 8: Stage 18, Levico Terme - Valico del Vetriolo 18 km individual time trial (cronometro)

Major ascent: Vetriolo

1. Andrew Hampsten: 42min 37sec
2. Roberto Visentini @ 32sec
3. Flavio Giupponi @ 40sec
4. Urs Zimmermann @ 52sec
5. Erik Breukink @ 1min 4sec
6. Tony Rominger @ 1min 39sec
7. Pedro Delgado @ 1min 55sec
8. Javier Lukin s.t.
9. Roberto Tomasini @ 2min 31sec
10. Roberto Conti @ 2min 35sec

GC after Stage 18:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 81hr 54min 6sec
2. Erik Breukink @ 1min 51sec
3. Franco Chioccioli @ 11min 29sec
4. Marco Giovannetti @ 14min 40sec
5. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 51sec
6. Peter Winnen @ 14min 57sec
7. Urs Zimmermann @ 15min 10sec
8. Flavio Giupponi @ 15min 27sec
9. Roberto Tomasini @ 21min 41sec
10. Maurizio Vandelli @ 25min 6sec

Friday, June 10: Stage 19, Borgo Val Sugana - Arta Terme, 233 km

Major ascents: Duran, Cibiana, Mauria

1. Stefano Giuliani: 6hr 40min 49sec
2. Urs Zimmermann s.t.
3. Roberto Pagnin @ 3min 5sec
4. Giuseppe Saronni @ 3min 6sec
5. Renato Piccolo s.t.
6. Marco Vitali s.t.
7. José-Luis Laguia s.t.
8. Massimo Ghirotto s.t.
9. Franco Vona s.t.
10. Alberto Volpi s.t.

GC after stage 19:

1. Andre Hampsten: 88hr 38min 11sec
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 49sec
3. Erik Breukink @ 2min 6sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 5min 27sec
5. Franco Chioccioli @ 11min 29sec
6. Marco Giovannetti @ 14min 40sec
7. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 52sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 14min 57sec
9. Roberto Tomasini @ 21min 41sec
10. Maurizio Vandelli @ 25min 6sec

Saturday, June 11: Stage 20, Arta Terme - Lido di Jesolo, 212 km

1. Alessio Di Basco: 5hr 51min 33sec
2. Johan Van der Velde s.t.
3. Urs Freuler s.t.
4. Rolf Sørensen s.t.
5. Silvio Martinello s.t.
6. Werner Stutz s.t.
7. Luciano Boffo s.t.
8. Stefano Allocchio s.t.
9. Paul Popp s.t.
10. Hendrik Redant s.t.

GC after Stage 20:

1. Andrew Hampsten: 94hr 29min 34sec
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 1min 49sec
3. Erik Breukink @ 2min 6sec
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 5min 27sec
5. Franco Chioccioli @ 11min 34sec
6. Marco Giovannetti @ 14min 40sec
7. Pedro Delgado @ 14min 52sec
8. Peter Winnen @ 14min 57sec
9. Roberto Tomasini @ 21min 41sec
10. Maurizio Vandelli @ 25min 6sec

Sunday, June 12: Stage 21A, Jesolo - Vittorio Veneto, 73 km

1. Urs Freuler: 1hr 52min 18sec
2. Alessio Di Basco s.t.
3. Jesus Suarez-Cueva s.t.
4. Paul Popp s.t.
5. Giovanni Bottoia s.t.
6. Marco Saligari s.t.
7. Pierino Gavazzi s.t.
8. Rolf Jaermann s.t.
9. Hendrik Redant s.t.
10. Giuseppe Petito s.t.

GC after Stage 21A:

1. Andrew Hampsten

Sunday, June 12: Stage 21B (final stage), Vittorio Veneto 43 km individual time trial (cronometro)

1. Lech Piasecki: 53min 40sec
2. Eric Vanderaerden @ 47sec
3. Rony Rominger @ 1min 1sec
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1min 2sec
5. Erik Breukink @ 1min 41sec
6. Roberto Pagnin @ 1min 51sec
7. Andrew Hampsten @ 2min 4sec
8. Giuseppe Saronni @ 2min 10sec
9. Jörg Müller @ 2min 12sec
10. Daniel Gisiger @ 2min 13sec

1988 Giro d'Italia Complete Final General Classification

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The Story of the 1988 Giro d'Italia

This excerpt is from "The Story of the Giro d'Italia", Volume 2. If you enjoy it we hope you will consider purchasing the book, either print, eBook or audiobook. The Amazon link here will make the purchase easy.

The 1988 Giro is memorable in no small part because it was a tough course contested by an excellent field. Great races are not made by watering down the route to favor particular riders. From the dawn of stage racing, Henri Desgrange worked to make the Tour great through hard but objectively-officiated racing. In 1988, the Giro rose to the call.

The 3,579-kilometer route was run without a single rest day, a schedule that would be against today’s rules which require a Grand Tour to have two rest days.

The previous year Greg LeMond was nearly killed in a hunting accident. Hit with 40 shotgun pellets, he suffered a collapsed lung and lost three-quarters of his blood. Anxious to resume his career, he was already back on the bike and racing. He signed with PDM and was going to try to ride the Giro a little more than a year after he was shot.

The real contenders included Jean-François Bernard (third in the 1987 Tour with two stage wins), Gianni Bugno, Urs Zimmermann (third in the 1986 Tour), Erik Breukink (third in the 1987 Giro), Pedro Delgado (second in the 1987 Tour) and Andy Hampsten (winner of the 1986 and ’87 Tours of Switzerland).

A secondary list should include Tony Rominger (second in the Tirreno–Adriatico earlier in the year) and the dedicated and determined Franco Chioccioli. Chioccioli was troubled by too many chiefs on his team: he was sitting third on Del Tongo’s totem pole below Saronni and Flavio Giupponi. Twelve of the twenty teams entered were foreign, showing the Giro’s slow change from important Italian race to one which had enough international presence to give the foreign sponsors the publicity they craved.

Starting in the hilly city of Urbino with a 9-kilometer individual time trial, Bernard took the first Pink Jersey with Rominger second at 3 seconds. None of the other big names lost serious time except LeMond, who was struggling and already down 1 minute 27 seconds.

The race headed south down the Adriatic side of Italy. During stage four, while the peloton seemed to be happy riding piano, Cyrille Fancello and Massimo Podenzana went off in search of adventure. Podenzana dropped his companion and rode in for a solid five-minute victory over the lackadaisical peloton, making Podenzana the leader with Bernard second, 4 minutes 32 seconds behind.

A 40-kilometer team time trial was ridden that afternoon. In this Giro, the teams’ real time counted in the General Classification. Del Tongo won it with Carrera second at 11 seconds. Podenzana’s Atala team came in seventeenth, 2 minutes 36 seconds back, but still good enough to leave Podenzana in pink.
The race headed west and then north up Italy’s western side. After stage five finished in Santa Maria Capua Vetere, near Naples, LeMond called it quits. It was too soon after his accident to be contesting a Grand Tour.

Stage six drew the first blood by going over central Italy’s Apennines, with a hilltop finish at Campitello Matese. Franco Chioccioli soared to the top of the mountain, beating the chasing pair of Hampsten and Zimmermann by twelve seconds. A group with Bernard, who was marking Visentini, came in at 35 seconds. Chioccioli’s attack brought him up to second place.

The new General Classification:
1. Massimo Podenzana
2. Franco Chioccioli @ 45 seconds
3. Urs Zimmermann @ 1 minute 18 seconds
4. Roberto Visentini @ 1 minute 40 seconds
8. Andy Hampsten @ 2 minutes 38 seconds

The top standings remained unchanged over next five stages, the only excitement being the cancellation of stage eleven when a group of demonstrators blocked the finish line.

Stage twelve had four rated climbs with a finish at the top of the Selvino. The days in the high mountains had begun. Del Tongo’s manager Pietro Algeri decided to gamble on Chioccioli’s excellent form and had Saronni and Giupponi keep the speeds high during much of the stage, bringing the best riders to the base of the final ascent together. Once on the climb, Hampsten scooted away with Delgado. They clawed out a fifteen-second gap on the group containing Breukink, Zimmermann, Bernard, Visentini and Chioccioli. Hampsten won the stage and Chioccioli took the Pink Jersey. Podenzana, too big to be playing in the hills with these boys, lost 16 minutes 5 seconds.

The General Classification:
1. Franco Chioccioli
2. Urs Zimmermann @ 33 seconds
3. Roberto Visentini @ 55 seconds
4. Flavio Giupponi @ 1 minutes 10 seconds
5. Andy Hampsten @ 1 minute 18 seconds

This takes us to the legendary 120-kilometer stage fourteen of the 1988 Giro d’Italia with its crossing of the Aprica, a trip partway up the Tonale and then a left turn up the south face of the Gavia pass with a final steep, technical descent into Bormio. The day was wet and cold. Until the start Torriani had been considering an alternate route because of the possibility of bad weather. It would end up being, in the words of La Gazzetta, “the day the big men cried.”
Over the first two climbs, the cold, wet riders stayed together. When they began ascending the Gavia with its patches of fifteen percent gradient (back then, only the Gavia’s switchback turns were paved), it began to snow and as the riders continued up the pass, it got ever colder. Johan Van der Velde, in just shorts and short sleeves, was first over the top. He was followed a few seconds later by Breukink, Hampsten and then by Chioccioli and Marco Giovannetti.

Andrew Hampsten climbing the Gavia pass in stage 14

Breukink and Hampsten had dropped the Italians well before the summit and crested together. The conditions were appalling; the road was frozen and when the riders began the descent, their brakes wouldn’t work on the frozen rims. Some had their gears jammed up with ice. Van der Velde gave up, dismounted his bike, waited for warmer clothes to be brought from the team car and descended the steepest part of the pass on foot. He lost 47 minutes that day.
Hampsten and Breukink pressed on down the steep, icy descent and into Bormio where Breukink won the sprint and Hampsten donned the maglia rosa.

The new General Classification:
1. Andy Hampsten
2. Erik Breukink @ 15 seconds
3. Franco Chioccioli @ 3 minutes 54 seconds
4. Urs Zimmermann @ 4 minutes 25 seconds
5. Flavio Giupponi @ 4 minutes 55 seconds

Let’s look at some of the important riders and what happened to them on that harrowing descent. Chioccioli is still bitter about that day, saying he was only 40 seconds behind Hampsten when he reached the top, but he was wearing shorts and a short sleeve jersey. He was still the virtual maglia rosa, yet, incredibly, the team car was back with Giupponi; Chioccioli said he had to make it to Bormio with no hat or even warm gloves. Feeling abandoned by his team, Chioccioli’s morale was shattered and after the Gavia stage he stopped riding offensively for the rest of the Giro.

Franco Chioccioli on the Gavia Pass, no warm gloves, no wool cap...

Breukink had to take both feet out of the pedals to balance his bike on the descent. Hampsten had been descending ahead of him and Breukink only saw him in the final kilometers of the stage. He closed the gap and seeing that Hampsten was at his limit, out-sprinted him for the stage win.

Most of the teams were unprepared for the terrible conditions, even though they knew the weather was going to be rough at the top of the Gavia. The directors may not have expected the dantesque conditions they met, but the slovenly way most of the directors took care of their riders was deplorable.
Mike Neel, Hampsten’s 7-Eleven team director, was ready with warm drinks and clothes to give the riders at the summit. Also, Neel had a 25-tooth rear sprocket mounted on Hampsten’s bike while the others were thrashing 23s. In many ways, Hampsten’s leadership in the Giro was one of preparation meeting opportunity. Even with Neel’s foresight, 7-Eleven rider Bob Roll went to the hospital with hypothermia. He recovered quickly and was on the starting line the next day.

Unfairly, many in the press and the peloton thought Hampsten’s position the result of good fortune rather than careful riding by a man who could climb as well as any in the world. The next day he got his first test as the new owner of the Pink Jersey. The fifteenth stage was originally scheduled to start in Bormio and go up the south face of the Stelvio with the finish at the Merano 2000 ski station.

It was snowing at the top of the Stelvio, so Torriani had the race start over the hill in Spondigna, just beyond the Stelvio descent. The riders faced a slightly downhill roll along the valley into Merano followed by a stiff climb to the ski station. Bernard went away at the base of the ascent with Urs Zimmermann for company until Zimmermann couldn’t take the Frenchman’s searing pace.

Alarmed by the growing gap, Hampsten chased, but only hard enough to keep Bernard in sight, managing to gain a little time on Breukink in the process.
Bad weather continued to harass the riders. Stage sixteen, to Innsbruck in Austria, went over several difficult passes in cold and snow. The riders stopped a couple of times, hoping that Torriani would cancel the stage. Not this Giro.

Breukink’s director Peter Post had his team ride hard, causing a split that left only Hampsten and Breukink of the highly placed riders in the front group. The chasers nearly caught the leaders and the day’s result was a few seconds added to the gap Hampsten and Breukink had on the rest of the contenders.

Hampsten had the same problem as many of the best pure climbers, questionable time trial skills. With a 40-kilometer individual test coming in the final stage, Hampsten had to pad his lead, otherwise he’d get run over by Breukink, a more complete rider.

He did get the bit of insurance he needed in stage eighteen, an 18-kilometer uphill time trial. Hampsten won the stage while Breukink was fifth, 64 seconds slower. Hampsten also pocketed the 20-second stage winner’s time bonus. Bernard, feeling that he had lost the Giro, abandoned, hoping for better in the Tour. He didn’t finish the Tour either.

The General Classification stood thus:
1. Andy Hampsten
2. Erik Breukink @ 1 minute 51 seconds
3. Franco Chioccioli @ 11 minutes 29 seconds
4. Marco Giovannetti @ 14 minutes 40 seconds
5. Pedro Delgado @ 14 minutes 51 seconds

It almost all came undone for Hampsten in stage nineteen. Zimmermann and Stefano Giuliani blasted away from the pack and carved out a large lead. The alarms went off in the peloton because Zimmermann, a racer not to be toyed with, was now the virtual maglia rosa and was cruising to victory. By the end of nearly three weeks of racing, Hampsten’s team was a wreck. Instead, Breukink’s Panasonic riders and the Del Tongo squad, looking after the interests of both Flavio Giupponi and Chioccioli, took up the chase. Giuliani and Zimmermann weren’t seen until the stage’s end, but the gap was narrowed enough to keep Hampsten at the top of the standings. Zimmermann was now second.

Now only the final stage’s 43-kilometer individual time trial stood between Hampsten and final victory. Bad weather had dogged the riders this year and the final stage was ridden in the rain. Breukink was tiring and came in fifth, beating Hampsten by only 23 seconds.

Hampsten’s victory was clear-cut. He not only won the General Classification, he took the Climbers’ prize and was third in the points. For the second year in a row, there were no Italians on the podium.

Andy Hampsten wins the 1988 Giro d'Italia

Final 1988 Giro d’Italia General Classification:
1. Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven-Hoonved) 97 hours 18 minutes 56 seconds
2. Erik Breukink (Panasonic-Isostar) @ 1 minute 43 seconds
3. Urs Zimmermann (Carrera Jeans-Vagabond) @ 2 minutes 45 seconds
4. Flavio Giupponi (Del Tongo-Colnago) @ 6 minutes 56 seconds
5. Franco Chioccioli (Del Tongo-Colnago) @ 13 minutes 20 seconds

Climbers’ Competition:
1. Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven-Hoonved): 59 points
2. Stefano Giuliani (Chateau d’Ax-Salotti): 55
3. Renato Piccolo (Gewiss-Bianchi): 49

Points Competition:
1. Johan Van der Velde (Gis Gelati-Bruciatori Ecoflam): 154 points
2. Rolf Sørensen (Ariostea): 131
3. Andy Hampsten (7-Eleven-Hoonved): 128

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Italian video of the famous stage 14 (Passo di Gavia)

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