Mourning in Treviso cycling. Stefano Basso, 40 years old, passed away Monday evening. He lived in Crocetta del Montello in the Ponte dei Romani locality, with his wife Serena Basso and his two daughters Camilla and Carlotta.

Stefano Basso had built a respectable cycling career as a competitive athlete. He started in 2002 from the junior category with Cornuda, where he specialized in Mountain Bike races: he finished second in the cyclocross national championships. In 2003 he continued on the road with Spercenigo, under the direction of Marco Gemin, achieving a second place in Carnago and at the regional championship and fourth place in the international race in Solighetto. As a climber-pacemaker, he had also won the hearts of the technical commissioner and was called up for some races in the Nations Cup. In 2002 he achieved three road victories: Paese, Mosnigo, and the prologue of the Tre-Tre Bresciana.

Then he made the big leap to the amateur category, still with Spercenigo, under the direction of Roberto Cendron. He finished third in the Gran Premio Liberazione, an international race held on April 25 in Rome, and 25th in the Giro del Belvedere.

With Roberto Cendron as team manager, he transferred in 2005 to Marchiol for three years where he achieved his first victory at the Bolghera in Trento (a race that is no longer held), again finishing in the top five (fifth) of the Gran Premio Liberazione, sixteenth in the Trofeo Piva. In 2006 he finished third in the Gp Città di Asti, seventh in the Italian championship and eighth in the Tour du Jura. The Liquigas team took notice of him and signed him for a stage.

In 2007, still with Marchiol, he finished fifth in the Trofeo Piva and eighth in the international race in Trieste. In the elite amateur category he moved to Mantovani from Rovigo, still directed by Roberto Cendron. "He had outstanding qualities as a climber-pacemaker, but he also knew how to hold his own in small groups - recalls Marco Gemin - he leaves a great loss in Treviso cycling".

Once he retired from cycling, he also found time for races, including mountain races where he enjoyed hiking. He liked to tend to his home garden.

"Stefano left us too soon. He was a passionate athlete who distinguished himself through dedication, commitment, and love for cycling. Stefano came from a family deeply connected to this sport, in the Crocetta del Montello area, where cycling is a way of life, tradition, and home - reads a post from the Treviso Cycling Federation committee - the passing of Stefano Basso leaves an enormous void not only for his loved ones, but for the entire cycling world, which today gathers with affection and respect around his family. Goodbye Stefano, you will continue to pedal in our memories".