Cycling legend Felice Gimondi has died at the age of 76 after he suffered a heart attack in Italy yesterday. Photo: Photo credits
Cycling legend Felice Gimondi has died at the age of 76 after he suffered a heart attack yesterday.
According to Cyclingnews.com the five-time Grand Tour champion was swimming in the sea off the coast of Giardini Naxos in Sicily, Italy, when the incident happened.
Italian Cycling Federation president Renato Di Rocco told Italpress that Gimondi’s death was “a huge sadness”.
“I’ve followed his entire career as a manager. I’ve always admired and appreciated him.”
He added that the gold medal Gimondi won at the 1973 World Championship in Barcelona was the most beautiful memory for him.
“He was [also] one of the few [cyclists] to have won all three Grand Tours.”
The Italian won the Giro d’Italia three times (1967, 1969 and 1976), the Tour de France in 1965 and the Vuelta a España in 1968.
“Felice was a person who was good with everyone and was appreciated by all.”
