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20 August 2019Big crowd this morning at the funeral of Felice Gimondi champion who wrote indelible pages in the world history of cycling. The arrival of the body in the parish church of Paladina, in the province of Bergamo, was greeted by a long applause. Also present were many well-known names on two wheels, such as Francesco Moser and Beppe Saronni, Paolo Salvoldelli and Moreno Argentin, Giambattista Baronchelli. Also present were Dino Zandegù and the president of the Italian Cycling Federation Renato Di Rocco.

The coffin carried by cyclists
The coffin of the former champion was carried on the shoulders of applause from the home of Gimondi to the Church where the funeral was celebrated by Beppe Manenti, Gianbattista Baronchelli, Massimo Girotto, Osvaldo Bettoni, Dario Acquaroli, Moreno Argentin, Paolo Savoldelli, Giovanni Bettineschi

A crowd inside and outside the church of Paladina
The church was full of people and a large crowd followed the function in the square. There are also many amateur cyclists who came in the race uniform to pay homage to the old champion, born in Sedrina 76 years ago. To celebrate the funeral in the parish church of Paladina, the small town where Gimondi lived with his wife Tiziana, were the parish priest of Paladina, Don Vittorio Rossi, and Monsignor Mansueto Callioni, parish priest of Almè and spiritual guide of the Gimondi family.

He taught us not to give up
"We feel the need to trace the life of this man and champion - said Monsignor Callioni - who has always chased the values ​​of family and work. Thanks to his victories and his defeats that have helped us never to give up".

Thanks for the victories and for the defeats
"Today we need to remember: each of us today could remember one, ten or a hundred episodes in which Gimondi entered our lives, to thank him for his champion victories, which instilled courage, pride and joy even for the Italians who were all abroad to work as woodcutters in Savoy or miners in Belgium ". Monsignor Mansueto Callioni, pastor of Almè and longtime friend of the Gimondi family, said this in the homily at the funeral of Felice Gimondi, in the parish of Paladina. "But thank you we say it not only for your victories - added the priest - but also for his defeats as a champion: you taught us to always fight, never to give in and never to give up, because in life you can't always to win".