Real bummer to hear this news today…stuck in the generation in between Anquetil and Merckx, he still won all three Grand Tours:
https://www.velonews.com/2019/08/news/italian-cycling-great-felice-gimondi-dies-at-age-76_499428
HIs TdF win was at age 22.
Love this quote:
“Eddy Merckx, I know him well,†Gimondi later said. “Unfortunately, I have to say, that he made me understand what it’s like to suffer in hell.â€
Real bummer to hear this news today…stuck in the generation in between Anquetil and Merckx, he still won all three Grand Tours:
https://www.velonews.com/...ies-at-age-76_499428
HIs TdF win was at age 22.
Love this quote:
“Eddy Merckx, I know him well,†Gimondi later said. “Unfortunately, I have to say, that he made me understand what it’s like to suffer in hell.â€
If only he had taken his swimming more seriously…
Also, interesting that he was on vacation near “Taormina”, namesake of Sheila Taormina.
Who knows the details of his swim death.
In any case, surprised that the so called “bike guys” on ST have not had much of a discussion about one of the pioneers of modern stage racing who bridged the eras from Anquetil to Merckx. It does not matter who else is around there are not many winners of all three grand tours…modern day just Froome and Nibali…then we have to rewind to Hinault. I don’t think Fignon ever won the Vuelta…then its back to Merckx. Dope Roche did the Giro+Tour+World’s triple in that single unbelievable (literally) year. Indurain just Giro and Tour. Contador all three in the “just retired group”.