It is a piece of news that fills the heart with sadness, the passing of Andrea Vezzaro, 45 years old, a precious figure in the marketing team of Cicli Pinarello, a point of reference for all those who pedal on the bikes of the Treviso-based company and for those, like us, who work with Pinarello.

Andrea Vezzaro was a person of rare authenticity, well-liked by everyone. It is impossible not to remember his courage and strength, qualities that allowed him to be "powerful" (we shared this concept for a long time) during the hardest moments of his illness, those that would take the smile away even from a saint.

Andrea is and remains for me a true champion, a superstar who smooths out the climbs of the Tour and makes the Arenberg forest look like a children's playground. I will miss our conversations and his advice, but above all, I will never forget his kindness and sincere moral integrity, a rare quality today.

A warm embrace to all those who mourn him, sincere condolences to his family and friends at Pinarello from our editorial team.