May 15, 1988: Hampsten's Gavia Pass

Joby Ingram-Dodd

15 May 2025

American Andy Hampsten wrote himself into cycling legend on the snow-covered Gavia Pass. During the 1988 Giro's queen stage, riders faced brutal conditions: temperatures below freezing, snow, and treacherous descents. While others crumbled, Hampsten thrived. Though Johan Van der Velde crested the Gavia first, he nearly froze on the descent. Hampsten's calculated risk-taking and extraordinary resilience saw him gain enough time to secure the pink jersey, becoming the first non-European to win the Giro d'Italia.

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