Giro 1996: Pavel Tonkov chases the Pink Jersey

It was clear the destinies of the Giro and the Russian champion would intersect sooner or later. On his first appearance in 1992 wearing the colors of Lampre-Polti, Tonkov won the race’s best young rider jersey and finished seventh in the general classification. The following year, he finished fifth and took the best young rider’s jersey for a second time. Unfortunately, in August, on his way home from training on the roads of Lombardy, he was involved in a car accident and fractured his kneecap. After two operations and a long convalescence, he was back in the saddle.

In 1994, he confirmed his stage racing talent by finishing fourth in the Giro, and sixth a year later in 1995. His crowning achievement came in 1996. That year, the first stages of the Giro were a succession of sprints and time trials. Tonkov didn’t shine particularly brightly, but always kept up with the leaders, gaining experience and waiting for the right moment to strike. The turning point came in the mountains. The thirteenth stage that finished in Prato Nevoso was a clash of titans. Tonkov took off on the final climb, overtaking all the favorites (Olano, Gotti, Zaina) and, last but not least, his compatriot Piotr Ugrumov. The result was his first Giro victory and Pink Jersey (snatched from the shoulders of Davide Rebellin), but he knew the real test was yet to come. The epic climbs of the Dolomites were waiting, and Tonkov didn’t disappoint. He faced each climb with determination and courage, staying with his rivals and consolidating his advantage in the general classification. The final week was a triumph; he fended off attacks and calmly defended his position in the individual time trial in Vicenza, won by another Russian, Eugeni Berzin (1994 Giro winner). On June 9, 1996, Pavel Tonkov triumphantly crossed the finish line of the final stage of the Giro d’Italia in Milan, forever etching his name in Giro history by winning the Italian Grand Tour.