In the Giro d’Italia of 1988 the monstrous stage over the Passo Gavia was only 120 kilometers, but this day became legendary as one of the most brilliant and insane mountain stages of the Giro d’Italia. Most cycling fans will remember this Epic stage by the former Dutch pro cyclist Johan van der Velde.
Who attacked the climb with bare arms
He’s was fighting his way up through the snowstorm and eventually was the first one reaching the top. The cold hit him hard. In a car he had to recover and thus loses a lot of time. After this stage, Johan van der Velde is called by the Italians ‘L’uomo di Gavia’. A life-sized photo of him is still on top of the Passo Gavia.
