{"id":10162,"title":"Goodwood 1982 - Giuseppe Saronni wins","description":"La fucilata di Goodwood: Our unique insight into the 1982 Cycling World Championship road race won by Italian star Giuseppe Saronni aboard his beautiful Colnago.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: COBBLES & CLASSICS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

The UCI cycling world championships were held in England in 1982. The road races took place at Goodwood in West Sussex. In the third of three articles, we report on the professional road race won by Guiseppe Saronni.<\/p>

\"qqqkfghpodjxr4xvgrozuejomo5g2nxy5ajjprotvvmr83ia.jpg\"<\/u><\/a>If you missed it, in part two we reported on the amateur titles<\/strong><\/a> which included a win by Britain's Mandy Jones.<\/p>

\"\" Moreno Argentin corners ahead of Frank Hoste and Laurent Fignon<\/em><\/strong> Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Riding the course<\/strong><\/h3>

I recently decided to re-ride the course. I was hoping that I could replicate Saronni's winning sprint at the top of the climb. Reality caught up with me long before I reached that point.<\/p>

Turning left at the roundabout and heading north away from the Goodwood motor racing circuit, the road almost immediately starts to climb. Imperceptibly at first, but soon the effect on my forward motion is noticeable. A canopy of overhanging trees welcomes me, providing dark shade and coolness on a bright summer day.<\/p>

Trundling<\/h3>

After a kilometre, past the Kennel Lodges, the gradient increases slightly before dropping down again for some brief respite. Then I am out of the trees and once again the sun rests pleasantly on my back. I look up and the road rises ahead more steeply. Between gaps in the trees to my left, I can make out the man-made earthwork known as the Trundle.<\/p>

I am oblivious<\/p><\/blockquote>

An apt metaphor for my laboured progress. My gaze is buried in the hub of my front wheel and I have little time to admire the natural beauty that surrounds me. A field away a pheasant squawks. Red Kites circle and soar and swoop high above me, but I am oblivious.<\/p>

\"\"After a further two kilometres, I reach the right-hand turn and glance back briefly to catch a glimpse of the sea far below. It shimmers and sparkles in bright sunlight. In the distance, the unmistakable outline of the Isle of Wight is caught in mist.<\/p>

All that remains now is a small plaque<\/p><\/blockquote>

Forty years ago the blue of Italy sparkled at this very spot as Beppe Saronni launched his winning sprint. The Italian press dubbed it \"la fucilata di Goodwood\". The gunshot of Goodwood. He left the opposition in his wake as he surged ahead only easing to raise his arms in victory. All that remains now is a small plaque where the finish line stood.<\/p>

I can only gasp and pant for breath as I slowly pass it.<\/p>

Fans<\/h3>

The financial issues surrounding the world championships at Goodwood had not improved. Sponsors were not happy that advertising hoardings had been obscured by fans and threatened non-payment. Reasonable estimates suggest that 20,000 people watched the professional road race on the last day of the World Championships.<\/p>

If all had paid the \u00a33 entry fee it would still have brought in only \u00a360,000, but a large number were watching for free. Attendance was disappointing. The locals showed little interest and foreign visitors hardly flocked to the event. Perhaps somewhat dismal past attempts by Great Britain to host the cycling World Championships in 1970 and the Tour de France in 1974 proved too much of a deterrent.<\/p>

Favourites<\/h3>

In the end, the race proved to be worthy of any World Championships with an exciting finale. Amongst those in the 130-plus field were that year's winner of the Tour de France, Bernard Hinault, reigning world champion Freddy Maertens, points winner from Le Tour Sean Kelly, American promise Greg Lemond and favourite Giuseppe 'Beppe' Saronni.<\/p>

\"\" Bernard Hinault climbs in the bunch<\/em><\/strong> Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Saronni was at the peak of his cycling career. He'd already won over twenty races that season, including three stages of the Giro d'Italia. He'd won the pink jersey as the winner of the Giro in 1979 and would win it again in 1983. He had the perfect physique and physiologically attributes for a hilly but not mountainous race that was likely to end in a sprint finish.<\/p>

Even before the start, it had been suggested that Bernard Hinault was a reluctant attendee and had been browbeaten by his federation to attend. Legend has it that Freddy Maertens arrived at the Richmond Arms Hotel at Goodwood in a taxi and drunk. Given his form that season, it was a surprise he was even selected by the Belgian federation.<\/p>

Perhaps they hoped he could transform his year like 1981 when Fast Freddy won not only the World Championships but also five stages of the Tour de France. It was a forlorn hope. His career never recovered and whilst he remained a professional cyclist until 1987 he never shone again.<\/p>

\"\"Freddy Maertens at De Ronde van Vlaanderen<\/em><\/strong> Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

British hopes<\/h3>

Great Britain fielded a team of twelve. The majority of them were 'home-based' professional cyclists who eked out a living riding short town centre races around the UK. Hour-long races were hardly ideal preparation for the 275 kilometres that lay before them.<\/p>

The best they could do was to increase their training mileage and hope the adrenaline of the occasion would see them through. Continental-based rider Graham Jones, a noted climber, and Sean Yates represented our best prospects on paper.<\/p>

\"\" <\/a>Great Britain's Sean Yates<\/em><\/strong> Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Being realists, we Brits adopted Ireland's Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche. The omens for the latter looked good as the race's main climb was on St Roche's hill.<\/p>

Early break<\/h3>

The riders set off to start their 17 laps of the course. This included three-quarters of a lap of the motor racing circuit, the three-kilometre climb, a rolling section along the top past the racecourse, a three-kilometre descent and back onto the motor racing circuit. The finish was near the top of the climb.<\/p>

The first major move was from France's Bernard Vallet, that year's winner of the King of the Mountains in the Tour de France. He ploughed a lonely furrow alone ahead of the peloton. At one point his lead had grown to about four kilometres, but no one, himself included, was in any doubt that he would be caught.<\/p>

\"\" <\/a>Bernard Vallet alone in his valiant but utterly pointless break<\/em><\/strong> Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Supposedly this act was to help his team leader Bernard Hinault. But soon Hinault was back in his hotel showered and changed long before the finish. Only three of France's team finished and Vallet was not among them.<\/p>

All prim and proper like<\/h3>

Next to make a significant move was Sweden's Tommy Prim. Riding his beautiful-looking Bianchi, he turned a monster gear as he climbed. His legs appeared to be almost motionless. Second in that year's Giro d'Italia and a brilliant time triallist he was a potential threat.<\/p>

\"hcst6ahaln2pivd8uy7zqymmmwbt7y9untebh1hdjb4lcz7v.jpg\"Tommy Prim aboard the world's most beautiful bike <\/em><\/strong>Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

By now the Italians, for once, united behind their team leader were starting to control the race. Even Saronni's arch-rival and nemesis Francesco Moser had signed the Faustian pact.<\/p>

\"\"Italy's Francesco Moser leads past the racecourse<\/em><\/strong>Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

La fucilata di Goodwood<\/h3>

The penultimate climb and final lap had seen the number of potential winners whittled to a handful. Sean Kelly's efforts to forge a break had come to nought, controlled as ever by the Italians. The race would be decided in the final kilometre. Not only was the excitement mounting for the spectators, but also for those in mission control. The helicopter that enabled the television footage was in danger of running out of fuel and there was a real risk that coverage would just stop.<\/p>

Treachery<\/p><\/blockquote>

America's Jonathan Boyer kicked out with a kilometre to go. Five hundred metres later it was his teammate Greg Lemond chasing him down. Not only was it treachery, but it was also pointless. The Dutch were already chasing Boyer hard and would have inevitably caught him. Giuseppe Saronni was marking Sean Kelly when Lemond jumped.<\/p>

It provided a perfect lead-out for the Italian maestro. Even before Lemond had caught Boyer, Saronni was past him and delivered 'La fucilata di Goodwood'. No one could stay with him as he avenged his second place of a year before.<\/p>

Lemond finished second with Kelly third. Fifty-five riders finished. Best placed Britain was one of the home-based riders Keith Lambert who finished forty-fifth. Sean Yates and Graham Jones were the only other British finishers.<\/p>

Saronni won riding a fantastic-looking deep red Colnago. The images of him on this bike ensured it achieved iconic status.<\/p>

The legacy<\/h3>

What legacy? British Cycling Federation was left with a hefty bill. The paint on the climb remained for some time until the local authority diligently cleaned it away. There was no peak in interest in cycling in the UK.<\/p>

We\u2019ll always have Goodwood<\/p><\/blockquote>

The whole event was largely ignored by the national media. A small and easily missed plaque marks the finish line. Life just carried on as before. But as Humphrey Bogart doesn't say in Casablanca, for us local cyclists \"We'll always have Goodwood\".<\/p>

\"\"Giuseppe Saronni <\/em><\/strong>Image:\u00a0<\/em>Mick Searle Collection<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>

Tim Costello, 21 May 2021<\/p>

\"grrbpemyywmusal5merxugim70nijvc2vqzqxpkx6vlx83lu.jpg\"<\/p>

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