R.I.P Franco Ballerini

[Buffalo Soldier]

Died in a rally crash

 

[Ferminal]

Sad

Can't blame this one on the omerta

 

[Race Radio]

Shocking news. Such a great rider and director

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-coach-franco-ballerini-dies-in-rally-crash

 

[Monty Dog]

Ballerini's Spring Classics campaigns will go down as legendary - being part of the all-conquering Mapei set-up that redefined how the races were ridden.

 

[tifosa]

A Roubaix soldier and twice its victor.

Peace.

 

[St. Elia]

Wow, that is really sad news, RIP Franco

 

[tubularglue]

 

[RDV4ROUBAIX]

He will be missed for sure. I always admired the Italians that loved the pavé, and he was one of my favorites. Best memories were his battles with Gilbert Duclos-Lassalle, Museeuw, and Tchmil. That footage of him rumbling down the last sectors to a solo victory in the '98 Roubaix is truly magnificent.

 

[Race Radio]

Classic pic

 

[Willy_Voet]

I started following cycling during the Mapei years. Ballerini was one of my favorite riders. He (and Magnus Bäckstedt) looked like Roubaix winners before they ever won.

Uniting the Italian National Team for the World's or Olympics was no easy feat. Ballerini was a unique individual who managed to lead them to five victories in 7 years.

He will be missed.

 

[Ripper]

Tragic news.

Rest in peace Franco.

 

[Steel4Ever]

Always sad when a 'hardman' passes away at the age of 95.

Just crazy when one dies not even 10 years out of retirement!
At least Franco died racing.

2 Cobbles as a rider, 4 Rainbows and Olympic Gold as a coach = the real deal!

 

[Ibanez]

Tragic news indeed, before my time but you have to respect his achievements as a rider and coach.

 

[BYOP88]

Rest in peace Franco.

 

[BroDeal]

People should not put spoilers in thread titles. Ouch! Bad Bro.

Sad news.

 

[craig1985]

People should not put spoilers in thread titles. Ouch! Bad Bro.

Sad news.

Reserve my spot in hell alongside you can you?

RIP Franco.

 

[pmcg76]

Very sad news about Ballerini.

One of the best cobbled classic riders of his generation. It took him a long time to recover from that narrow defeat by Duclos-Lassale in Paris-Roubaix 93Ballerini was the strongest man in the race and was sure he would win in a two-up sprint. After the finish, he thought he had won and set of on a lap of glory, then they looked at the photo finish....with Duclos winning. I think Ballerini swore then he would never return to Roubaix but fortunately he did and won in 95 & again in 98.

North American fans should also note that he won the World Cup GP Ameriques in Montreal in 1990. Good DS with the Italian National team, such tragice news.

 

[usedtobefast]

he was such a tough,tough rider. cool guy. very sad for his family.RIP.

 

[blaxland]

R.I.P Ballerini you were one of the best..........Condolences to his wife and children.......you will be missed but never forgotten..........

 

[zapata]

very sad news. liked the picture of him waving to the camera in arenberg forest, I'll remember that.

 

[bianchigirl]

Great rider who then made a great career as manager of the Squadra moulding a winning team out of a bunch of prima donnas. Will also remember his 'Merci Roubaix' vest. Class act.

 

[usedtobefast]

 

[BroDeal]

 

[craig1985]

Every year I pray that we have a Roubaix were it is bucketing down with rain and covered in head to toe in mud.

 

[BroDeal]

Every year I pray that we have a Roubaix were it is bucketing down with rain and covered in head to toe in mud.

They should hold the spring classics two weeks earlier to account for global warming.