It's Saturday, October 11, 1975, and the very wet Giro di Lombardia is being raced: Francesco Moser wins in a sprint. The rising star is wearing the Italian Champion jersey with Filotex brand and crosses the finish line ahead of Enrico Paolini and Alfredo Chinetti in a sprint.

Exactly 50 years have passed since Francesco Moser's first Lombardy victory. That win, crowning 7 hours and 24 minutes of racing at an average speed that nearly touched 36 km/h in an atmosphere of Ossian-like epic conditions, represents a beautiful memory for "Checco" Moser.

The 1975 Lombardy was the first cycling race broadcast in color by Rai and Eurovision. Moser was 24 years old at the time. In 1975, he had skipped the Giro d'Italia, considering it too much for climbers. That year, Francesco had won the Italian Championship, many classics, and had also won 2 stages and the young rider's classification (white jersey) at the Tour de France.

The 1975 Lombardy followed the most classic route of the modern era: starting in Milan and ending in Como on Lungolario Trento street. It was a 266-kilometer route with Ghisallo climbed from Erba and Canzo in the initial phase, then passing through Lecco, climbing towards Ballabio (Colle Balisio), descending to Bellano. Following the "turning point" of the northern Lario at Colico and Gera, the climbs of Val d'Intelvi, Schignano, and San Fermo. A continuous and beautiful TV spot of Lake Como despite rain and winter-autumn cold. In short, with all the ingredients needed to create the definition of "classic of the dead leaves", and Annibale De Faveri in kamikaze mode breaking away from the first kilometers.

De Faveri leads over Ghisallo and Balisio. He is caught at Menaggio, on the western shore of Lake Como. The real race begins after 168 kilometers, strictly under the rain. On the Val d'Intelvi climb, a group of VIPs forms at the front: Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Moser, Baronchelli, Maertens, Bertoglio, Panizza, Zilioli, De Muynck. Then the descent towards Argegno, on the lake shore, with Moser unleashing and the Lombard Alfredo Chinetti, having a great day, managing to stay on his wheel.

The situation changes after the climbs towards Schignano with Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck, the "gypsy of Eeklo", managing to reach Chinetti and Moser. When the race passes through Argegno again, the breakaway riders Moser, Chinetti, De Vlaeminck are joined by Merckx, Baronchelli, and Paolini.

Behind them, Miro Panizza and Tino Conti are chasing, with Salm and other riders further back. The cold, especially on the descents, becomes biting, and Moser borrows leather gloves from a Highway Police officer. They're the type that also protects the forearm; and so in the final of Lombardy, the Trentino displays an unprecedented look. Francesco is at his last monument classic sponsored by Filotex and wants to give the Tuscan textile company a nice satisfaction. Moser attacks by the lake 28 kilometers from the finish, Chinetti skillfully hooks on and shortly after, Enrico Paolini does the same. Behind, Merckx, De Vlaeminck, Maertens, Baronchelli, and a few other survivors look at each other. There's no reaction from them. Enrico, Francesco, and Alfredo start the San Fermo with a 40" lead over the great rivals. They maintain 35" at the top of the balcony overlooking Lake Como and launch towards Lungolario. With 200 meters to go, Paolini tries to anticipate his rivals, but Moser comes back and wins with raised arms, wearing gloves, in an exhausting edition of Lombardy. Paolini is 2nd, Chinetti 3rd. The Flemish De Vlaeminck wins the sprint for 4th place, 1'17" behind the winner.

Only 18 of the 106 starters completed that endless Lombardy. At the end of the 1975 season, Moser also triumphed in the Trofeo Baracchi team time trial, racing with Gibi Baronchelli. In January 1976, Francesco became captain of Sanson. He won Lombardy again in 1978 in Como on a sunny day.

FINAL STANDINGS

1. Francesco Moser 266 km in 7h 24', average 35.946; 2. Enrico Paolini; 3. Alfredo Chinetti; 4. Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) at 1'17"; 5. Freddy Maertens (Bel); 6. Eddy Merckx (Bel); 7. Gibi Baronchelli; 8. Miro Panizza at 5'55"; 9. Tony Houbrechts (Bel) at 8'55"; 10. Jos Jacobs (Bel) at 9'34".