14 April 1907:
The First Milano-Sanremo
The first Milano-Sanremo, the most classic cycling race of all time, was held on 14 April 1907. The brainchild of two journalists, Tullo Morgagni and Armando Cougnet, with the blessing of Eugenio Costamagna, the editor of the Gazzetta dello Sport, the 286 km race started from the Osteria Conca Fallata on the Naviglio Pavese, with the finish line in Via Roma in Sanremo, the “City of Flowers”, by way of the Passo del Turchino. As was often the case back then, it immediately became a duel between the French and the Italians. Lucien Petit-Breton came from beyond the Alps, but he had been hired by the Bianchi company in Italy for the occasion: born Lucien Georges Mazan, he had emigrated to Argentina but then returned to his homeland, where he was nicknamed the “Little Breton” because of his diminutive stature.
Another Frenchman was Gustave Garrigou, who competed in the Peugeot jersey at the time and who, a few years later, would ride to victory in the Tour de France. The Italian team relied on Giovanni Gerbi, known as the “Red Devil”. Born in Asti, he had moved to Milan where he worked as a baker’s boy. He owed his nickname to the red sweater he always wore, as well as to his not exactly meek nature. Years later, he gained immortality in a song by Paolo Conte. Luigi Ganna, from Induno Olona near Varese, finished fourth in the first edition of the Classicissima, going on to win the following year, in 1908, thus entering the history books of cycling. The winner of the first Milano-Sanremo was Petit-Breton, who reached the finish line in 11 hours and 4 minutes. It was the beginning of an immense chapter in the history of cycling. Just a few years later, Costante Girardengo, the “Campionissimo”, came onto the scene and for about a decade only the Italian flag would go up at the Milano-Sanremo. By its side, of course, fluttered the yellow and red flag with the Long P of Pirelli.
The first Milano-Sanremo, the most classic cycling race of all time, was held on 14 April 1907. The brainchild of two journalists, Tullo Morgagni and Armando Cougnet, with the blessing of Eugenio Costamagna, the editor of the Gazzetta dello Sport, the 286 km race started from the Osteria Conca Fallata on the Naviglio Pavese, with the finish line in Via Roma in Sanremo, the “City of Flowers”, by way of the Passo del Turchino. As was often the case back then, it immediately became a duel between the French and the Italians. Lucien Petit-Breton came from beyond the Alps, but he had been hired by the Bianchi company in Italy for the occasion: born Lucien Georges Mazan, he had emigrated to Argentina but then returned to his homeland, where he was nicknamed the “Little Breton” because of his diminutive stature.
Another Frenchman was Gustave Garrigou, who competed in the Peugeot jersey at the time and who, a few years later, would ride to victory in the Tour de France. The Italian team relied on Giovanni Gerbi, known as the “Red Devil”. Born in Asti, he had moved to Milan where he worked as a baker’s boy. He owed his nickname to the red sweater he always wore, as well as to his not exactly meek nature. Years later, he gained immortality in a song by Paolo Conte. Luigi Ganna, from Induno Olona near Varese, finished fourth in the first edition of the Classicissima, going on to win the following year, in 1908, thus entering the history books of cycling. The winner of the first Milano-Sanremo was Petit-Breton, who reached the finish line in 11 hours and 4 minutes. It was the beginning of an immense chapter in the history of cycling. Just a few years later, Costante Girardengo, the “Campionissimo”, came onto the scene and for about a decade only the Italian flag would go up at the Milano-Sanremo. By its side, of course, fluttered the yellow and red flag with the Long P of Pirelli.
