![Italian rider Gilberto Simoni (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line followed by his team mate Leonardo Piepoli after the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Lienz to Italian rider Gilberto Simoni (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line followed by his team mate Leonardo Piepoli after the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Lienz to](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2E7TNF5/italian-rider-gilberto-simoni-l-celebrates-as-he-crosses-the-finish-line-followed-by-his-team-mate-leonardo-piepoli-after-the-17th-stage-of-the-giro-ditalia-cycling-race-from-lienz-to-monte-zoncolan-may-30-2007-simoni-won-the-stage-while-italian-rider-danilo-di-luca-took-the-leaders-pink-jersey-reutersalessandro-bianchi-italy-2E7TNF5.jpg)
Italian rider Gilberto Simoni (L) celebrates as he crosses the finish line followed by his team mate Leonardo Piepoli after the 17th stage of the Giro d'Italia cycling race, from Lienz to
![Italian Gilberto Simoni celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage of the Tour of Spain cycling race from Guadalajara to Alto de Abantos, September 29, 2001. Spain's Italian Gilberto Simoni celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage of the Tour of Spain cycling race from Guadalajara to Alto de Abantos, September 29, 2001. Spain's](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2D4DC1K/italian-gilberto-simoni-celebrates-as-he-crosses-the-finish-line-to-win-the-20th-stage-of-the-tour-of-spain-cycling-race-from-guadalajara-to-alto-de-abantos-september-29-2001-spains-oscar-sevilla-retained-the-overall-race-lead-reuterspaul-hanna-phas-2D4DC1K.jpg)
Italian Gilberto Simoni celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the 20th stage of the Tour of Spain cycling race from Guadalajara to Alto de Abantos, September 29, 2001. Spain's
![Mihai Simion on Twitter: "The first and only time the Giro went up the mythical Zoncolan from the Sutrio side (2003) the Maglia Rosa, Gilberto Simoni won, extending the gaps on all Mihai Simion on Twitter: "The first and only time the Giro went up the mythical Zoncolan from the Sutrio side (2003) the Maglia Rosa, Gilberto Simoni won, extending the gaps on all](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E18L_4uXEAIpJmy.jpg)
Mihai Simion on Twitter: "The first and only time the Giro went up the mythical Zoncolan from the Sutrio side (2003) the Maglia Rosa, Gilberto Simoni won, extending the gaps on all
![Gilberto Simoni of Saunier Duval during the Tour de France 2006, cycling Stage 15 race,Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez on June 18, 2006 in 'Alpe-d'Huez, France - Photo Laurent Lairys /DPPI Stock Photo - Gilberto Simoni of Saunier Duval during the Tour de France 2006, cycling Stage 15 race,Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez on June 18, 2006 in 'Alpe-d'Huez, France - Photo Laurent Lairys /DPPI Stock Photo -](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/2BC8KJM/gilberto-simoni-of-saunier-duval-during-the-tour-de-france-2006-cycling-stage-15-racegap-lalpe-dhuez-on-june-18-2006-in-alpe-dhuez-france-photo-laurent-lairys-dppi-2BC8KJM.jpg)
Gilberto Simoni of Saunier Duval during the Tour de France 2006, cycling Stage 15 race,Gap - L'Alpe-d'Huez on June 18, 2006 in 'Alpe-d'Huez, France - Photo Laurent Lairys /DPPI Stock Photo -
![Giro d'Italia on Twitter: "2 #Giro d'Italia winner have birthday today! Best wishes to Franco Chioccioli (1991) and Gilberto Simoni (2001/2003) https://t.co/HS7s1aRUY1" / Twitter Giro d'Italia on Twitter: "2 #Giro d'Italia winner have birthday today! Best wishes to Franco Chioccioli (1991) and Gilberto Simoni (2001/2003) https://t.co/HS7s1aRUY1" / Twitter](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CqsYeCuXgAARMUA.jpg)