R.I.P. Felice Gimondi

[Dino Suegiù]

29 September 1942
16 August 2019

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRKumF55YWhGCRIaG9KM7yiYzBIXr0Nf 2755Qcjt65Tbc9bg-4esA

https://rouleur.cc/editorial/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/PRESSESPORTS_2008714_tdf_019-1.jpg

https://www.bergamonews.it/photogallery_new/images/2019/08/felice-gimondi-655955.660x368.jpg

[fiamme red]

A great champion and a true gentleman. He will be missed. RIP. :(

[Dino Suegiù]

Yes indeed. He always seemed so humble, joyous, and respectful.

In one of his last interviews he said, "Champion? I was an artisan of fatigue.", which is really such a direct and honest sentiment and stance.

[Blue Jays]

Oh, no. Very sad news to learn. :-(
What a tremendous cycling champion.

[fiamme red]

An interview with him from a few years ago: https://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/Gimondi.html.

[choke]

A very classy man....RIP.

[paredown]

An interview with him from a few years ago: https://www.bikeraceinfo.com/oralhistory/Gimondi.html.
Lovely interview--thanks.

The comments about racing with Merckx are priceless!

[Hawker]

RIP Sir. Yes, great interview, thanks for posting.

[FlashUNC]

Worth a read:

https://rouleur.cc/editorial/felice-gimondi/

[David Kirk]

Watching old video with Felice hammering is awesome. Rest in peace Sir.

dave

[Dekonick]

Will be missed.

[mhespenheide]

I love this picture of him, joyful at a relatively recent Eroica:

[Dino Suegiù]

Lovely interview--thanks.

The comments about racing with Merckx are priceless!

Merckx's statement today is very touching:
“This time I am the one who has lost. First of all I have lost a friend and, then, the adversary of my career. We competed against each other for years, on the roads, but we became great friends towards the ends of our careers. I last spoke with him two weeks ago, as we often did. What can I say, I am destroyed. Felice was first of all a great man, a great champion, sadly he has been taken away from us. It is a terrible loss for cycling. I recall all of the battles we fought against each other…a man like Gimondi is not born every day, and with his passing I lose a piece of my own life. He is one of the greatest of all time.”
- Eddy Merckx, 16 August 2019.

[David Kirk]

Merckx's statement today is very touching:
“This time I am the one who has lost. First of all I have lost a friend and, then, the adversary of my career. We competed against each other for years, on the roads, but we became great friends towards the ends of our careers. I last spoke with him two weeks ago, as we often did. What can I say, I am destroyed. Felice was first of all a great man, a great champion, sadly he has been taken away from us. It is a terrible loss for cycling. I recall all of the battles we fought against each other…a man like Gimondi is not born every day, and with his passing I lose a piece of my own life. He is one of the greatest of all time.”
- Eddy Merckx, 16 August 2019.



That is beautiful.

dave

[schwa86]

+1 -- Truly moving

[Dino Suegiù]

I love this picture of him, joyful at a relatively recent Eroica:

https://forums.thepaceline.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=1697983671&stc=1&d=1566000506

That is a super photo, just great. What a smile and relaxation.

It reminds me of this FG photo in some ways.
I remember after I saw this one many years ago I bought the complete Salvarani jersey, socks and cap from Prendas. It was fun, even if I never rode that hard or that well in my "homage" to him.

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/81/be/a2/81bea2fe7d50ff3da5bbea7507369006--felice-cycling-motivation.jpg

[Llewellyn]

Merckx's statement today is very touching:
“This time I am the one who has lost. First of all I have lost a friend and, then, the adversary of my career. We competed against each other for years, on the roads, but we became great friends towards the ends of our careers. I last spoke with him two weeks ago, as we often did. What can I say, I am destroyed. Felice was first of all a great man, a great champion, sadly he has been taken away from us. It is a terrible loss for cycling. I recall all of the battles we fought against each other…a man like Gimondi is not born every day, and with his passing I lose a piece of my own life. He is one of the greatest of all time.”
- Eddy Merckx, 16 August 2019.


Love it.

[nobuseri]

Merckx's statement today is very touching:
“This time I am the one who has lost. First of all I have lost a friend and, then, the adversary of my career. We competed against each other for years, on the roads, but we became great friends towards the ends of our careers. I last spoke with him two weeks ago, as we often did. What can I say, I am destroyed. Felice was first of all a great man, a great champion, sadly he has been taken away from us. It is a terrible loss for cycling. I recall all of the battles we fought against each other…a man like Gimondi is not born every day, and with his passing I lose a piece of my own life. He is one of the greatest of all time.”
- Eddy Merckx, 16 August 2019.




Sums him up as eloquently as one can put it.

Thanks for sharing and very sad to hear the news.

[fiamme red]

Finally an obituary in the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/obituaries/felice-gimondi-dead.html.

[pbarry]

Finally an obituary in the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/obituaries/felice-gimondi-dead.html.

Just class all the way. A great example for all of us. I'm humbled after reading his interviews and the articles posted.

[marciero]

Finally an obituary in the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/obituaries/felice-gimondi-dead.html.

It mentions the elegance for which he was known. Reminds me of a quote of his:
"Elegance transcends suffering"

[Climb01742]

A great rider, a greater man. Loved this from the Times obit: "I did not have a brilliant gift. But doing my job properly, with will and application, I succeeded.” Words to live by.

[redir]

The Phoenix rises. RIP to one of the greats.

[XXtwindad]

Merckx's statement today is very touching:
“This time I am the one who has lost. First of all I have lost a friend and, then, the adversary of my career. We competed against each other for years, on the roads, but we became great friends towards the ends of our careers. I last spoke with him two weeks ago, as we often did. What can I say, I am destroyed. Felice was first of all a great man, a great champion, sadly he has been taken away from us. It is a terrible loss for cycling. I recall all of the battles we fought against each other…a man like Gimondi is not born every day, and with his passing I lose a piece of my own life. He is one of the greatest of all time.”
- Eddy Merckx, 16 August 2019.


That quote is enough to make anyone a cycling fan.