Italian cycling legend Felice Gimondi dies at the age of 76

Italian cycling legend Felice Gimondi, one of only seven riders to have won all three Grand Tours, has died at the age of 76.

Gimondi suffered a heart attack while swimming in Sicily on Friday.

Gimondi was born in September 1942 in Sedrina, in Bergamo province in the north of Italy, becoming a professional in 1965 following a win at the Tour de l’Avenir in 1964.

He was a prolific winner right from the off, winning five Grand Tours in his career including the Tour de France in his first year as a professional in 1965, three editions of the Giro d’Italia (1967, 1969 and 1976), and the Vuelta a España in 1968. There were also 14 stage wins in Grand Tours along the way, including seven in the Tour and six at the Giro.

Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Alberto Contador, Vincenzo Nibali and Chris Froome are the other five riders to have won all three Grand Tours.

Gimondi still holds the record of podium finishes at the Giro with nine, finishing off the podium only three times between his debut in ’65 and his final victory in ’76.

Via ANSA/BBC