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Vittorio Adorni Photo Gallery

and Short Biography

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Story of the Giro d'Italia, volume 1

Bill and Carol McGann's book The Story of the Giro d'Italia, A Year-by-Year History of the Tour of Italy, Vol 1: 1909 - 1970 is available in print, Kindle eBook & audiobook versions. To get your copy, just click on the Amazon link on the right.

About Adorni:

Vittorio Adorni (born November 14, 1937) picked his fights, feeling he didn't need to win everything. But when he won, he won big. Both his 1965 Giro d'Italia win and victory at the 1968 World Road Championships were spectacular.

He was a capable time trialist and track pursuiter and the peloton let him escape at its extreme peril.

In the 1965 Giro he romped away from the field in stage six, taking the maglia rosa. He lost the lead two stages later when a fuga bidone gained 15 minutes. He retook the lead for good after the stage 13 time trial, but he wasn't content to just control the pack and cruise to victory. Late in the nineteenth stage he launched a spectacular attack on the Spluga Pass that left the best climbers like Vito Taccone, Italo Zilioli and Franco Bitossi several minutes behind. His final winning margin of 11 minutes 26 seconds remains the Giro's largest since Coppi's 1949 gap of almost 24 minutes. La Gazzetta dello Sport called him "The best maglia rosa since Coppi."

His 1968 World Championship ride was one of the most dominating ever. On the Imola race course Adorni broke away on the fourth lap with Rik van Looy and Joaquim Agostinho. Having a very poor sprint, Adorni knew he dare not finish with van Looy, one of racing's fastest finishers. With 90 kilometers to go Adorni took off. The Italian team strangled the peloton and prevented an organized chase. Adorni to cruised across the finish with a lead of 9 minutes 50 seconds, the largest ever in a world professional championship road race.

Major victories and high placings:

1958:

1963:

1964:

1965:

1966:

1967:

1968:

1969:

1970:

Professional Teams:

1961: Vov
1962: Philco
1963: Cynar
1964 - 1966: Salvarani
1967: Salamini-Luxor
1968: Faema
1969 - 1970: SCIC


Photos:

Vito Taccone and Vittorio Adorni

Vito Taccone leads Vittorio Adorni as they try to bridge up to a break in the 1962 Giro d'Italia.

Vittorio Adorni attacks in the 1963 Giro

1963 Giro d'Italia: Vittorio Adorni attacks and Vito Taccone is chasing.

Vittorio Adorni in 1965

Adorni riding the 1965 GP Castracaro Terme.

Adorni wins stage 6 of the 1965 Giro

Adorni riding to a brilliant stage win and the overall lead at Pietrastretta in stage 6 of the 1965 Giro d'Italia.

Adorni as the new maglia rosa of the 1965 Giro

Vittorio Adorni as the new maglia rosa in the 1965 Giro d'Italia.

Savarani poster with Adorni and Gimondi

Salvarani had a wonderful 1965 with Adorni winning the Giro and Felice Gimondi winning the Tour de France

Adorni in 1966

Vittorio Adorni in the 1966 Giro d'Italia, stage 12.

Vittorio Adroni riding the 1967 GP Castrocaro Terme

Adorni in 1967, riding the GP Castrocaro Terme.

Adorni in 1967

Another shot of Adorni in the 1967 GP Castrocaro Terme.

Vittorio Adorni in 1967

Zoom! Adorni rounds a corner and heads downhill in the 1967 GP Castrocaro Terme.

Vittorio Adorni in the 1967 Giro d'Italia

Franco Bitossi leads Adorni up the Stelvio in the 1967 Giro d'Italia, stage 20.

Vittorio Adorni in 1968

Adorni in Faema colors riding the 1968 GP Castrocaro Terme.

Vittorio Adroni in 1968

Adorni goes by the stands in the 1968 GP Castrocaro Terme.

Vittorio Adorni in the 1968 Giro d'Italia

Adorni (Faema kit) in stage 16 of the 1968 Giro d'Italia.

Vittorio Adorni nat the 1968 world's

Adorni alone in the 1968 World Championships at Imola.

Vittorio Adorni

1968 World Road Championships, Adorni on his fabulous breakaway.

Adorni at the 1968 Worlds

He's lost his hat, but Adorni is still riding away from the field at the 1968 Worlds.

Vittorio Adorni is the 1968 World Road Champion

He's done it! Vittorio Adorni has become the 1968 World Professional Road Champion.

Vittorio Adorni in 1969

Wearing his rainbow jersey, Adorni rides stage four of the 1969 Giro d'Italia.

Adorni at the 1970 Coppa placci

Adorni (in SCIC kit) rides the 1970 Coppa Placci.

Adorni at the 2006 tour of Flanders

Adorni congratulates Tom Boonen at the 2006 Tour of Flanders.

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