1953, World Champion


On August 30th, 1953 the World Championship was held in Lugano, on the Crespera circuit (Crespera is the name of the famous climb which the cyclers will ride for 20 times)

Fausto Coppi did a lot of training for this race: the World Championship is now the last important race missing and the Crespera circuit seems to be reliable for his characteristics.

After 20 Km form the start the Frenchman Gaul is the first to attack: he will be followed by other riders, among them Fausto Coppi, Ferdi Kubler and Raphael GĂ©miniani.
After 12 laps , on the Crespera climb, Coppi attacks and sprints ahead: only Derycke (Belgium) will be able to keep the Fausto's wheel for 70 Km, but, on the Crespera again!, Coppi will be able to leave him and to increase his advantage. On the arrival the second place will be for Derycke (+6' 16") , the 3rd for Ockers (+7'29") and then Michele Gismondi, Defilippis, Gaul, Kubler, Bobet and Gèminiani.
Fausto Coppi is now the World Champion, but some clouds are now rising at the horizon: near Fausto, for the first time, a lot of people is going to discover Giulia Occhini , the famous "Dama Bianca" (White Lady).