R.I.P. Felice Gimondi

[Dino Suegiù]

Originally Posted by mhespenheide

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

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.

[Llewellyn]

Originally Posted by Dino Suegiù

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]

Originally Posted by Dino Suegiù

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/o...ondi-dead.html.

[pbarry]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

Finally an obituary in the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/o...ondi-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]

Originally Posted by fiamme red

Finally an obituary in the Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/22/o...ondi-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]

Originally Posted by Dino Suegiù

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.