Entrepreneurial vision, passion, style. Fausto Vighini did not enjoy the spotlight, preferring to leave it to his athletes. And the historic Verona cycling patron, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 92, launched countless champions: from Olympic athlete Eros Poli to the Rebellin brothers, through Nicola Minali, Marco Toffali, Gianluca Zanini, Luciano Boffo, Nicola Vanin and the Strazzer brothers, all of whom turned professional. A success story that continued by sponsoring the Riboli Team's junior formation, where pure talents like Edoardo Affini, Luca Mozzato and Filippo Zana grew up.

Originally from Venera, a fraction of the Lower Verona area that has always lived and breathed cycling, Fausto Vighini began as a team manager of the local squad. It was the year 1960. In 1973, together with Roberto "Billy" Ceresoli, he decided to take the big step and founded the US Venera Opel Vighini, which made its debut on Ferragosto day in Pescantina. In 1978 the team became Opel Vighini Venera and in 1984 it took the name Opel Vighini - Padana Legno - Mondital, becoming one of the strongest amateur teams in Italy.

Fausto Vighini's legacy was then carried on by his two sons Andrea and Nicola, now leading the family group that from the 1990s linked the Autozai brand to the Riboli Team, contributing to writing unforgettable pages in the society's history, the latest being last year with third place in the team classification, the best result since 2017.

"Beyond being an example of extraordinary foresight in the entrepreneurial field, Fausto left an indelible mark in the Verona cycling world and in the hearts of all who knew him" – recalls General Manager Enrico Mantovanelli. "With his passion and unmistakable style, he supported and encouraged generations of athletes, transmitting values of commitment, loyalty and determination. The same values we still try to pass on to our young athletes. More than victory, Fausto cared about the team's image, which had to be impeccable, including in terms of behavior and education. His memory will live forever in our hearts."