Italian cycling mourns one of its greats, Vittorio Adorni, who passed away at the age of 85. Professional from 1961 to 1970, he won the Giro d’Italia in 1965 and the world championship in 1968: they were the high points of a career that saw him excel in 60 races. But beyond the undoubted qualities of an athlete, Vittorio Adorni was probably the watershed between the old and the new cycling. In the early 1960s, the cyclist was the expression of a peasant Italy, which identified itself perfectly in that sport of sweat and effort. Adorni gave a more ‘intellectual’ twist to that figure. On the immense effort that still today is the inevitable background to the profession, he carved the ease in front of the microphones, the opinions expressed in a refined and elegant way. Details that did not escape Sergio Zavoli, who made him a regular columnist in the most famous broadcast in the history of Italian cycling, the ‘Processo alla Tappa’.
Vittorio Adorni and that 90 km escape that became a legend
So at ease in front of the cameras, that in the period to which his most famous success is linked – the Imola World Cup – Adorni was entrusted with the management, together with Liana Orfei, of a game show on TV entitled ‘Ciao mamma ‘. Just the episode following the world championship triumph was one of the many occasions in which Adorni spoke of that feat. A race that, with so many aces at the start, was very uncertain. Adorni instead, exploiting extraordinary teamwork, was the protagonist of a 90-kilometer ride that made him enter history. Suffice it to say that he crossed the finish line with 9’50 “on the second (Herman Van Springel) and 10’18” on Michele Dancelli. It was his greatest victory in a road race, despite three consecutive podiums at Liège-Bastogne-Liege (between 1963 and 1965), second place at Milan-Sanremo in 1965 and silver at the Sallanches World Championship, in 1964.
Vittorio Adorni in the Giro d’Italia Hall of Fame: “A dream”
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Vittorio Adorni and those legends as teammates
In the second part of his career he also found himself playing the third man, that uncomfortable role played by other cycling champions (above all the great Fiorenzo Magni) compressed into a strong dualism. In fact, one of the most legendary rivalries in cycling had exploded, the one between Felice Gimondi and Eddy Merckx. Adorni was a teammate of both, with the Bergamo native (in 1965 the Giro and Tour were shared) with Salvarani, with the Belgian with Faema. He captained him, helping to win but also winning.
Vittorio Adorni, Gimondi’s daughter: “Say hello to dad”
After his competitive activity, he was sports director, he was a television commentator, then he was president of the Council of professional cycling within the International Cycling Union and councilor for sport of the Municipality of Parma. Just Norma Gimondi, Felice’s daughter, with a post on Facebook (“Hi Vittorio, say hello to dad”), gave the news of his disappearance.
Cassani: “Intelligent, for him only extraordinary assignments”
“Because of his intelligence he has always held extraordinary positions, he was a great champion and a great man”. Thus Davide Cassani, former cyclist, commentator and television commentator, reminded Sky Sport of Adorni’s figure. “I arrived in Rai after Adorni, he told what he saw and explained the reason for the attacks. Back then the commentary was short, he had great language skills and explained what was happening correctly. He was alongside Adriano De Zan , was the main columnist at the ‘Trial to the stage’. He was so good at talking that he explained in detail what was going on in the race.”
