The first Giro began in Milan on May 13th, 1909 at 2:53am.
166 riders left that pre-dawn for Bologna, almost 400km
distant. Armando Cougnet organized that first edition
for La Gazzetto dello Sport, a position he would hold
until 1948 playing a role not unlike that of Desgrange
in the Tour.
Many veterans of the Tour de France were there. 1905
winner Louis Trousselier was there in good form. Two
time winner Lucien Petit-Breton was there, as was
François Faber of Luxembourg who in July would become
the first foreign Tour winner.
Dario Beni would finish first in Bologna. It took him
14:06:15. He was only 20 years old, and 97 years later
only four younger riders have ever taken a stage of
this great race.