Icons of cycling: The Cima Coppi

Named after Italy’s most famous cyclist, the Cima Coppi has celebrated the highest point of the Giro d’Italia since 1965 - Words by Giles Belbin

Vincenzo Nibali takes victory and the Cima Coppi on Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the 2013 Giro d'Italia (Sunada)

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

In 1965 the organisers of the Giro d’Italia devised a stage that would honour Fausto Coppi.

Starting in Campodolcino and finishing in Soldo, stage 20 would tackle the Passo Stelvio en route. At 2,757m altitude, it was the highest point of the race and the first rider over the summit would be re- warded with a new prize: the Stelvio was the Giro’s first Cima Coppi (‘Coppi peak’).

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