Thirty years ago today. The fourth stage of the Giro goes from Montesilvano to Campitello Matese. Oscar Pelliccioli from Bergamo is on the attack, starting alone at the start of the Molise climb. But 4 kilometers from the finish line, the Russian Evgeni Berzin, known to all as Eugenio, leaves the group of men in the rankings. They are not impossible slopes, but the fresh surprise winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, in a true state of grace never to be repeated, is unleashed and is enough for him to clear the air behind him. Miguel Indurain is also behind, aiming for a consecutive three in the Giro but not in top condition. And one kilometer from the summit he reaches Pelliccioli, who he then beats (not without sweating it out) in the sprint. At 17″ Wladimir Belli arrives, then at 47″ a small group closes with Indurain, Bugno and the emerging youngsters Rebellin and Pantani.
the ride
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The blond boy from Vyborg – a town on the border with Finland – thus takes the pink jersey away from Moreno Argentin, who had worn it for two days: he won’t let go of it until the final finish line in Milan. Indeed, he will gradually increase his advantage, dominating the 44 kilometers of the Grosseto-Follonica time trial at 52 per hour, in which he inflicts a surprisingly heavy gap of 2’34” on Indurain, and then also the other time trial, 35 kilometers with second half uphill, from Chiavari to the Bocco Pass. Although put in difficulty by Pantani on the Mortirolo, Berzin triumphed in Milan with 2’51” over Pirata and 3’23” over Indurain. Never before had a Russian conquered the Giro.
