9 June 1973: Eddy Merckx, wearing the maglia rosa, rides with his Molteni team mates after his Giro d'Italia victory. Merckx won the Giro on five occasions - a feat equalled only by the Italian Campionissimos Alfredo Binda and Fausto Coppi. Merckx first win came in 1968 (his first ever GC) and again in 1970 and a hatrick of victories between 1972-1974. The 1973 Giro entailed 20 stages that began, rather fittingly, in Merckx's native Belgium and covered a total of 2361 mile, ridden at an average pace of 22 miles per hour. Merckx won the race ahead of the two Italians, Felice Gimondi (+7'42") and Giovanni Battaglin (+10'20").
Photo: Offside / L'Equipe.