Angelo Lavarda is a name that - discreetly, reservedly, two characteristics that unmistakably distinguished the person, shy, concrete, action-oriented, an anti-celebrity by nature and constant life choice - accompanied, in prominent positions but always behind the scenes, cycling, especially professional cycling, for more than half a century, let's say from the late 1960s until a few years ago.
From a family with Vicenza origins, Angelo was born in Marostica on April 5, 1942 and competed in unremarkable races in minor categories. However, he emerged with considerable success in training courses for CONI Sports Master in Rome, a period he always remembered with pleasure for the environment and the many colleagues, some famous, with whom he maintained cordial relations, without any ostentation. He began his activity within the FCI ranks in Milan and settled in the lower Varese area, in Arsago Seprio, becoming a convinced railway commuter, using cars only for professional needs.
And his activity, carried out with his somewhat "German" approach, embraced various and articulated experiences, both on the road and on the track, where he experimented and put to good use his knowledge and experience, always accompanied and blended with continuous, intelligently curious research of expertise in the field, both in Italy and abroad. The topics under discussion, the issues always saw him engaged in researching, analyzing, evaluating from every angle, both technical and regulatory, in depth, causes and possible solutions. He is credited with the creation, around the mid-1980s, of the birth of "team manager" courses, a figure that was emerging and supporting the role of sports director, with new implementations and definitions in the management of a sports group.
And his shy, measured, almost Spartan approach, he also implemented in his family, accustoming his three children – Elena and the twins Vera and Andrea, with the always precious support of his wife Anita, who passed away suddenly in June 2022, raising them in respect for nature and in the pursuit of beauty, even outside of trends, loving outdoor life with respect for nature. Values, behaviors and habits always practiced also with the various circle of grandchildren and, two of whom were also twins, whom he nicknamed the "eaglets".
In cycling, he is especially characterized by his long career within the Professional Cycling League of the good old days, as general secretary and many other experiences acquired in the environment that he profitably put at the disposal of the leaders of the organizations in which he worked until a few years ago when, with his wife, they found their place of the heart on the shores of Lake Maggiore, in the Cerro di Laveno area, in a wooded and agricultural setting, where Angelo always found something to do.
A "true man of action", always with an attentive eye and a "long eye" for cycling races seen on television that he always knew how to "read" in advance in their unfolding.
For some months a physical problem had forced him to the sidelines and then into a healthcare facility in his beloved territory and his stubbornness in refusing writings and/or articles for fear of celebrations gave way a little to remember the friends and colleagues in cycling that he continued to have and always will have.
Angelo left a great memory in the world of two wheels.
We will not dwell further to respect his wishes, his character, his being.