A devastating loss has struck the former professional cyclist, now TV commentator and team manager of Sc Padovani Polo Cherry Bank Alessandro Petacchi. His father Felice, known to everyone as Lucio, has passed away. A great cycling enthusiast, Lucio transmitted his passion for bicycles to Alessandro, who became one of the most successful Italian cyclists in history (179 professional victories, including a Milan-Sanremo, 22 Giro d'Italia stages, 6 Tour stages and 20 Vuelta stages). His passion for cycling and love for his Ale-Jet took him across European roads, always accompanied by two loyal friends, Gattino and Baciccia, the latter having passed away a few years ago. At every victory, Lucio's eyes would fill with tears. An immense satisfaction that he always kept away from the spotlight, which he never loved.

Lucio had been hospitalized at La Spezia Hospital five months ago due to a minor work accident (he was still working at a Naval Shipyard out of pure passion) where his spleen was removed. From that moment, a true ordeal began, which led him to spend 42 days in intensive care, then transferred to the better-equipped Pisa hospital, but the situation was already compromised. What seemed like a trivial work accident and a "routine" operation turned out to be a Mortirolo that Lucio, with his remaining strength, was unable to climb. After five months of torment no one should experience, he passed away at 76 years old.

Lucio leaves behind his wife Gaudilla, children Alessandro (with wife Annachiara) and Ilaria (with husband Gabriele), and his beloved grandchildren Ludovica, Diletta and Alessandro junior, to whom we extend our most sincere embrace and deepest condolences from the entire editorial staff of tuttobiciweb and tuttoBICI.