Classy Coppi...
The 1952 Tour included, for the very first time, Alpe-d'Huez, Sestriere and the Puy de Dome. Fausto Coppi already won the Giro and was ready ...to pounce.
...claiming more fame up Sestriere.
On Alpe-d'Huez the only real challenge was from the impish climber Jean Robic. Coppi rode effortlessly away from the Frenchman to a solo victory. His flight of fancy was captured on the first TV pictures from the Tour. The journalist, Pierre Chany described his Alpe-d'Huez spectacle as, "untroubled by the dead weight and useless muscles which makes others look like mules staggering up the mountain passes."
With the Yellow Jersey on his shoulders, he flew to a stage win to Sestriere with just under 20 minutes lead in the overall classification.
Coppi was the first over the Tourmalet and the Aubisque winning the stage into Pau. He was now 27 minutes in the overall lead. He soloed up the extinct volcano at Puy de Dome inflating his lead by 31 minutes. No one could come close to touching him...
A 'walk' in the mountains for Il Campionissimo!
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