Gilberto Simoni

Italian cyclist, winner of the Tour of Italia 2001. He is considered the best climber in the world at this time with only two riders who might challenge him, let along match him. In 1999 and 2000 he ranked third and in 2000 he also won the famous Vuelta à España stage to the Alto Angliru as well as the Giro d'Emilia. In some of his races, the climb has been as much as 23%. At the World Championship road-race he escaped at the last hill but was caught just in time by Andre Tchmil. After a marvelous season for both Simoni and his team Lampre he stood twelfth in the UCI-ranking.

A professional rider since 1994, he has performed on top teams with his first victory stage in Arco, 1997 and first tour won, Giro di Svizzera, 1999. His first one-day race won was the Giro dell Emilia, 2000.

Simoni married Arianna, the daughter of the cyclist Francesco Moser on 31 November 2001 at 2:00 PM in the San Valentino church in Palu di Giovo, Italy, a joyous conclusion of a year to remember. With a new season only a few months away, he has put back his honeymoon until Christmas and instead will join his new team mates at the Saeco get together in Varazze in early December.