the 1962 edition of the giro d’italia was marred by severe weather conditions. the fourteenth stage was shortened following a violent storm which prevented the climbing of the last two scheduled mountain passes and the stage finished atop the passo rolle. angelino soler won the race's sixteenth stage, with franco balmamion finishing second on the stage and taking the race lead. balmamion successfully defended the lead all the way to the race's finish in milan. balmamion repeated as champion the next year after gaining the lead after the nineteenth stage that contained six difficult climbs.