the tensions at the start of the race in 1954 were high because the organizers paid fausto coppi a large sum to participate in the race the transaction angered the peloton and led to the race being not highly contested; this was extremely evident on the twenty-first stage when the riders took over nine hours to complete the stage. eventual winner carlo clerici attacked during the sixth leg and gained enough of a time advantage over the rest of the peloton and win the giro d'italia. fiorenzo magni led the majority of the first half of the 1955 giro d'italia before losing the lead to another rider. during the twentieth leg, magni attacked with fausto coppi when his fellow competitors had stopped to change their tires. magni's efforts gave him the race lead and ultiamtely his third giro d'italia victory.