* Eldest Giro winner: Fiorenzo Magni (Ita) - 1955 (35 years)

* Most stage wins in a single edition: Alfredo Binda (Ita) - 1927: 12 wins

* Most times on the podium: Felice Gimondi (3 wins - 2-time second placed; 4-time third place getter)

* Fastest ever Giro: 1983 (winner: Giuseppe Saronni - av. speed: 38.937 km/h)

* Fastest ever stage: May 17, 1997: (winner : Mario Cipollini - av. speed: 48.521 km/h)

* Most starters: 1928 (298 riders)

* Fewest starters: 1912 (56 riders)

* Most finishers: 1994 (143 riders)

* Fewest finishers: 1914 (8 riders) .

* Longest ever Giro: 1954 (4,337 km.)

* Shortest ever Giro: 1909 (2,448 km.)

* Longest ever stage: 1914 (Lucca-Roma 430 km. / winner: Costante Girardengo)

* The 1st EVER GIRO STAGE got underway on May 13, 1909, at 2h53 AM in Piazzale Loreto, Milano.

* The 1st EVER ITT was held in 1933 over a 62-km. distance from Bolonia to Ferrara

* The 1st EVER UPHILL ITT took place in 1935, and went from from Rieti to the Terminillo climb.

* Most Stage Victories:
Mario Cipollini (Ita) - 42 wins
Alfredo Binda (Ita) - 41 wins
Learco Guerra (Ita) - 31 wins
Costante Girardengo (Ita) - 30 wins
Eddy Merckx (Bel) - 25 wins
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) - 24 wins
Francesco Moser (Ita) - 23 wins
Fausto Coppi (Ita) - 22 wins
Roger De Vlaeminck (Bel) - 22 wins
Franco Bitossi (Ita) - 21 wins
Giuseppe Olmo (Ita) - 20 wins
Miguel Poblet (Spa) - 20 wins

* Most Stages as GC Leader:
Eddy Merckx (Bel) - 77 stages
Alfredo Binda (Ita) - 59 stages
Francesco Moser (Ita) - 57 stages
Gino Bartali (Ita) - 50 stages
Giuseppe Saronni (Ita) - 49 stages
Jacques Anquetil (Fra) - 42 stages
Fausto Coppi (Ita) - 31 stages
Bernard Hinault (Fra) - 31 stages
Miguel Indurain (Spa) - 29 stages
Costante Girardengo (Ita) - 26 stages
Roberto Visentini (Ita) - 26 stages
Felice Gimondi (Ita) - 24 stages
Fiorenzo Magni (Ita) - 24 stages

... and now a "historical look" at the cities of the 2004 Tour of Italy (info courtesy of "Gazzetta dello Sport")