Special categories in the Giro d'Italia
In the first Giros, there were special categories of riders. In 1950, there was an overview of winners of special categories published in a newspaper (source), but it did not say which category they won. Below an attempt to see if this overview was a bit correct.
| Year | Rider | Classification(s) won |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 | E. Azzini | Isolati |
| 1910 | E. Corlaita | Isolati |
| 1911 | G. Gerbi | Isolati |
| 1913 | M. Robotti | Prix Monro |
| 1914 | E. Sala | Isolati |
| 1919 | G. Lombardi | Isolati |
| 1920 | E. Petiva | Isolati |
| 1921 | G. Rossignoli | Isolati |
| 1922 | D. Schierano | Isolati |
| 1923 | O. Bottecchia | Isolati, Juniores |
| 1924 | A. Gabrielli | Fuori |
| 1925 | R. Gagliardi | |
| 1926 | G. Enrici | Isolati |
| 1927 | A. Cavallini | Isolati |
| 1928 | A. Catalani | |
| 1929 | P. Mori | Isolati |
| 1930 | A. Cavallini | Isolati |
| 1931 | A. Cavallini | Isolati |
| 1932 | A. Cavallini | Independent rider, Isolati |
| 1933 | C. Erba | Isolati |
| 1934 | G. Gotti | Independent rider, Isolati |
| 1935 | A. Morelli | Isolati |
| 1936 | E. Molinar | Isolati |
| 1937 | E. Molinar | Free rider |
| 1938 | S. Simonini | Grouped rider |
| 1939 | S. Simonini | Grouped rider |
| 1940 | G. De Stefanis | Grouped rider |
| 1949 | G. Astrua | Cadetti |
| 1950 | S. Pedroni | Independent rider |
The general conclusion is that the list shows the isolati from 1909 to 1936, the best free rider (isolati or grouped) in 1937, the best grouped rider from 1938 to 1940, and the best cadet/independent rider from 1949 to 1950. A few differences that are not really a problem:
- In 1912, there was no winner of a special category, because there were no individual classifications.
- In 1913, Robotti the Prix Monro. This was just the name for the best isolati that year that had a special name. Maybe this prize also had a special name in other years, but I did not find that in the sources.
- In 1923, Bottecchia was also the best junior. Does not seem relevant.
- In 1932 and 1934, the best isolati was also the best independent rider, but they are on this list because they were the best isolati. Other best independent riders are not on this list, only from 1949 when there were no more isolati.
And a few differences that are a problem:
- In 1924, there were no teams, and everybody rode as isolato. Gabrielli was the best fuoriclasse, but it seems that this was a sort of amateur category.
- In 1925, there were no teams in my overview. But what did Gagliardi win? Some websites show teams for 1925, but in these overviews Gagliardi was the fifth rider without team, and Trentarossi was the highest-ranked rider without team.
- In 1928, there were also no teams according to my research. But what did Catalani win? Some websites show teams, but in these overviews Catalani was part of the Wolsit-Pirelli team, and Enrici was the best isolated rider.
