The world of Belluno cycling mourns Gino Fochesato. He passed away yesterday, after a period marked by more than one health problem, the former professional. Born on June 17, 1948 in Introbio, in the province of Lecco, but of Vicenza origins, as a young man he had moved to Alpago, in the Belluno area, because his father worked as a forestry officer in Cansiglio. Some football kicks and then the bicycle. With which the spark ignited. Eleventh in his first race, in 1965, Beginners category, in the Enal Tagliapietra Belluno jersey. That same year also a second place and a victory, at Monte Berico. The following year, Juniors category, there were four victories and among these the one in one of the classic races of Veneto youth cycling, the Vittorio Veneto-Cansiglio.

In 1967 the move to Veloceclub Longarone, amateur third category: three victories. The following year, already moved to amateur first category, three more victories, including the Trento Bondone. In '69 there were as many as 9 victories and, among these, the Veneto Championship, beating Giovanni Battaglin. Another six victories between 1970 (his was the Giro del Piave) and 1971. In 1972 the move to Società ciclisti Padovani, one of the most important cycling clubs in Italy. A golden season: ten successes. Among these three "gems": the international Trofeo Martini in France, the Veneto championship and the international Trofeo Piva at Col San Martino. The latter race, in which a certain Francesco Moser finished third.

A cyclist with a capital C, Gino. Who in that 1972 was also first reserve of the quartet for the 4x100 at the Munich Olympics. And, in the Italian national jersey, he also competed in the Giro del Messico. One of the most important amateurs, therefore, Fochesato. One who battled with Moser and who often finished ahead of Giovanni Battaglin. It was natural that he turned professional. The "leap" came with the Dreher jersey, the team that fielded, among others, Italo Zilioli and Michele Dancelli. A brief adventure, however, among the "big boys": it lasted just two years, 1973 and 1974.

It was precisely in 1974 that he participated in the Giro d'Italia, passing through its roads in two stages: in the Pordenone – Tre Cime di Lavaredo and in the Misurina – Bassano del Grappa, then closing the pink race in Milan in 78th position.

Few, very few satisfactions, in the two years as a professional, especially due to hepatitis contracted at the aforementioned Giro del Messico, an illness that had weakened him and that did not allow him, in the two-year period among the "big boys", to show what he was worth. Consequently, he decided to quit. He later worked as a sales representative. Between the Eighties and Nineties, he occasionally lent a hand to Mansueto "Teto" Mares, his sports director at the time of Veloceclub Longarone, in following the young riders of the Società ciclistica Alpago.

Fochesato's funeral, who leaves behind his wife Bianca, will be held tomorrow, Friday May 15, at 10:30 in the parish church of Tambre (Belluno), the town where Gino resided.