The first prologue occurred in the 1968 Giro d'Italia. Palermo was home to the grand depart of the 2008 Giro d'Italia. The city also regularly hosts stages of the Giro d'Italia annual cycling race. However, Armstrong was able to recover in time to ride in the 2009 Giro d'Italia. The classification was discontinued after the 1988 Giro d'Italia. This list is complete up to and including the 2019 Giro d'Italia. The most sought after classification in the Giro d'Italia is the general classification. Giro 1982, Tour 1982, and Vuelta 1983. Felice Gimondi was victorious in 1976 winning his third Giro. Merckx opened the 1967 campaign with two stage victories at the Giro di Sardegna. Three days following his victory at the Giro, Merckx started the Tour de Suisse. An overview of climbs featured in the Giro di Lombardia. This was similar to the "Merckx affaire" in the 1969 Giro. He closed out the 1971 calendar with his first victory in the Giro di Lombardia. Sastre finished 43rd in the GC of the 2006 Giro.