1971 · Story
When Gimondi opened the sprint against Merckx
After almost 269 kilometres the world title came down to two riders. Gimondi tried to go first. Merckx waited just long enough.
Two champions alone
The Mendrisio course was technical and hilly. When the race was decided, Eddy Merckx and Felice Gimondi were clear while Cyrille Guimard was left to contest bronze.
Gimondi had already won the Tour and Giro. Merckx was in the middle of his most dominant years. The final therefore put two of the era’s most complete riders into a direct sprint.
The final metres
Gimondi opened first. It was his chance to surprise the faster rival, but Merckx held the wheel and came past before the line to win his second professional world title after 1967.
Two years later the roles were reversed in Barcelona, where Gimondi won the rainbow jersey and Merckx finished fourth. Mendrisio remains the cleanest image of their rivalry: two riders, one straight road and nowhere to hide.
Source and further reading
mundialciclismoponferrada.com ↗
The image provides historical context. Where it does not depict the specific event, the caption says so.
