A grave loss has struck Venetian cycling with the passing of the legendary Adriano Salviato, a member of the French "Follis" team and companion to great champions including Nino De Filippis and Renato Giusti.

He was 90 years old, born in Mirano, in the province of Venice, on November 9, 1935, and lived with his family in Mestre. He was among the major rivals of the mythical and unforgettable champion Fausto Coppi and a great protagonist in events such as the 1955 Milan-San Remo and Flèche Wallonne, accumulating an impressive 70 victories in his career.

Salviato had been hospitalized at the Angelo Hospital in Mestre following a fall at home. The funeral will take place tomorrow morning, Friday, February 20, starting at 9 am, at the Church of Santa Barbara, and his remains will be laid to rest in the Chirignago Cemetery.