almost three years after his first giro d'italia victory, fiorenzo magni won the giro d'italia again. magni's major rival in the 1951 edition was the belgian rik van steenbergen who performed very well in the dolomites. magni took the lead after descending successfully down the final climb of the eighteenth stage and then protecting the lead all way to the race's finish. the 1952 giro d'italia featured one of the first deaths by a rider in the giro in orfeo ponsin who died from complications after crashing into a tree on the descent of the merluzza. fausto coppi took the race lead upon the tenth stage's finish, but the following day he attacked on the passo pordoi and rode the rest of the stage by himself to increase his lead. coppi won two stages after gaining the overall lead, which further cemented his lead in the race.