The history of Italian cycling is rich with races that are no longer held but that have made history: for this reason, we thought of offering you a new column that pulls them out of the memory drawer. If you have an archive photo in the drawer, a newspaper clipping, or wish to tell the story of this or that race, do not hesitate to write to us at info@tuttobiciweb.it or daniloviga@gmail.com. Enjoy reading.

Mezzovico, just a stone's throw from us in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. In that municipality, the Gran Premio Monte Tamaro for amateurs was born. A fascinating and valuable race, organized for over two decades by the Velo Club Monte Tamaro (founded in 1976 as Velo Club Tamaro). A classic in the true sense of the word that managed to capture the interest of many Italian teams. It was held over a distance of 150-160 kilometers on the challenging Alto Vedeggio circuit. From the information in our possession, the first edition took place in 1978 and was conquered by the Swiss Jurg Luchs ahead of Gilbert Glaus and Rocco Cattaneo: the latter had raced for the Velo Club Monte Tamaro when very young, then turned professional and participated in 2 Giros d'Italia, 3 Tours of Switzerland, 2 Tour de Romandie, 4 World Championships, and once off the bike, he became president of the UEC (European Cycling Union).
We have no information about the 1979 and 1980 editions, but we do know about the 1981 edition won by Fabrizio Verza. The Venetian, then with Isal Tessari Salotti, won by a margin of 1'48" over his teammates Massimo Santambrogio and Alberto Saronni, who sealed the triumph for the team at that time directed by Enrico Maggioni. The following year, Isal Tessari continued to dominate the race: the Lombard Gianmarco Saccani won after a solo action that forced the local riders to settle for second place. Dario Montani finished third, with Massimo Santambrogio still placed in fourth position. In 1983, we witnessed the triumph of Novartiplast, at the time the number one rival of Isal Tessari.
Tullio Cortinovis broke away in the finale and at the finish line he beat his teammate Alberto Volpi by 42". That podium was completed by Heinz Imboden, while Claudio Bestetti closed in fifth place. Another double by Bresciaplast (in the meantime replacing Novartiplast, always under the guidance of Mario Cioli and Olivano Locatelli) in the 1984 edition.
Flavio Giupponi got the better of the competition and arrived in Mezzovico with a 23" advantage over Alberto Elli and the Swiss Haenni. After four years of Italian dominance, the Swiss took command of their race again: Hans Reis, Markus Eberli, Andrea Guidotti (twice), and Roger De Vittori went on to win in the period from 1985 to 1989. De Vittori's was a victory at the expense of Italians Tiziano Mancini and Daniele Asti, who failed to counter the winning attack of the Velo Club Mendrisio rider. The first time for a New Zealander occurred in 1990: Tom Bamford put the local athletes Seenhauser and Gartmann behind him, while twelve months later Giorgio Mercati, a Ticino native of Velo Club Lugano, got the better of Roland Matter and the Pole Andrzej Sypytkowski. Roger De Vittori's second win came in 1992 and also on that occasion by a margin.
Always for the colors of Velo Club Mendrisio, he triumphed ahead of Riccardo Dasoli and his compatriot Gartmann, both distanced by 25". In the following two years, Stefano Dante rose to prominence. The Lombard from Ecoclear dominated the Ticino event, winning in 1993 ahead of De Vittori (VC Mendrisio Chiasso Monte Tamaro) and his teammate Roberto Pistore, and in 1994 with 1' over the same Pistore and Ermanno Brignoli from Panor-Pagnoncelli. Dante from Copreno, in Brianza, was the only Italian rider to win two editions of the Gran Premio Monte Tamaro. In the wake of Dante's exploit, Ivano Zuccotti of Vini Caldirola made a big impact, arriving solo with 1'20" over his teammate Simone Simonetti and the ever-green De Vittori. In 1996, Marino Beggi emerged. The Tuscan from Giusti Casini Vellutex conquered the race, anticipating Salvatore Commesso by 30" and Emiliano Murtas.
On May 8, 1997, Ascension Day, Simone Simonetti (second two years earlier) hit the target by beating his teammate Stefano Panetta, together sealing the triumph of Vini Caldirola. The group at 2'06" was led by Milovan Stanic. The following year, the South African Robert Hunter, racing in Switzerland for Velo Club Lugano Nippo Prisma, made a name for himself. He would become an excellent professional with a stage win at the Tour de France and two at the Vuelta a España. The 1999 edition concluded with the success of the Sardinian Agostino Spanu. The former rider of Zoccorinese Coalca was the last Italian to win, and on that occasion he arrived ahead of Oscar Borlini and Paolo Ardizzi, placed second and third respectively. The last edition (2000) also celebrated the arrival of the new Millennium. The winning move was that of David Loosli over his compatriots Elmiger and Albasini.

HONOR ROLL
1978- Luchs Jurg (Sui-Individual)
1981- Verza Fabrizio (Isal Tessari)
1982- Saccani Gianmarco (Isal Tessari)
1983- Cortinovis Tullio (Novartiplast)
1984- Giupponi Flavio (Bresciaplast)
1985- Reis Hans (Sui-Allegro Puch)
1986- Eberli Markus (Sui-Individual)
1987- Guidotti Andrea (Sui-Velo Club Lugano)
1988- Guidotti Andrea (Sui-Velo Club Chiasso Dollop De Rosa)
1989- De Vittori Roger (Sui-Velo Club Mendrisio)
1990- Bamford Tom (New Zealand Cycling)
1991- Mercati Giorgio (Sui-Velo Club Lugano)
1992- De Vittori Roger (Sui-Velo Club Mendrisio)
1993- Dante Stefano (Ecoclear)
1994- Dante Stefano (Ecoclear)
1995- Zuccotti Ivano (Vini Caldirola Banco Desio)
1996- Beggi Marino (Casini Giusti Vellutex)
1997- Simonetti Simone (Vini Caldirola Banco Desio)
1998- Hunter Robert (Rsa-Velo Club Lugano Nippo Prisma)
1999- Spanu Agostino (SC Zoccorinese Coalca)
2000- Loosli David (Sui-Seat Kona Radio Argovia)