The 2004 Giro d’Italia was the 87th edition of the prestigious Italian cycling race. It took place from May 8 to May 30, 2004. The Giro d’Italia is one of the three Grand Tours of cycling, along with the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España.
Overall Route: The race consisted of 21 stages covering a total distance of around 3,391 kilometers (2,107 miles). The route featured a mix of flat stages, mountain stages, and time trials, offering a variety of challenges to the riders.
Winner: Damiano Cunego, an Italian cyclist riding for the Saeco Team, emerged as the overall winner of the 2004 Giro d’Italia. Cunego was a young talent at the time and his victory marked a significant breakthrough in his career.
Youngest Winner: At just 22 years old, Damiano Cunego became the youngest winner of the Giro d’Italia since Fausto Coppi in 1940. His victory brought him widespread recognition and established him as one of Italy’s most promising cyclists.
Other Contenders: While Damiano Cunego dominated the race, there were other notable contenders vying for victory, including riders like Stefano Garzelli, Gilberto Simoni, and Serguei Gonchar.
Overall, the 2004 Giro d’Italia was a memorable edition of the race, marked by the emergence of a young talent in Damiano Cunego and exciting racing throughout its 21 stages.
Jersey Winners – 2004 Giro d’Italia
Pink Jersey (Maglia Rosa): Damiano Cunego (Italy) – Saeco Team. Cunego won the overall general classification, securing the pink jersey as the race leader.
Green Jersey (Maglia Verde): Fabian Wegmann (Germany) – Gerolsteiner Team. Wegmann topped the mountain classification, earning the green jersey.
Cyclamen Jersey (Maglia Ciclamino): Alessandro Petacchi (Italy) – Fassa Bortolo Team. Petacchi dominated the points classification, claiming the cyclamen jersey.
These riders distinguished themselves throughout the race, earning recognition in their respective jersey classifications.
Overall Ranking – 2004 Giro d’Italia
These were the top 10 riders in the general classification (overall standings) of the 2004 Giro d’Italia:
- Damiano Cunego (Italy) – Saeco Team
- Serhiy Honchar (Ukraine) – De Nardi-Colpack
- Gilberto Simoni (Italy) – Saeco Team
- Dario Cioni (Italy) – Fassa Bortolo
- Yaroslav Popovych (Ukraine) – Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
- Stefano Garzelli (Italy) – Vini Caldirola-Nobili Rubinetterie
- Wladimir Belli (Italy) – Lampre
- Bradley McGee (Australia) – FDJeux
- Tadej Valjavec (Slovenia) – Phonak
- Juan Manuel Gárate (Spain) – Lampre
Click here to remember who the winners of the 2005 Giro d’Italia were.