He was often referred to as the “pretty boy” of cycling – a label Roberto Visentini always firmly rejected, yet one that followed him throughout his career. In the peloton, he stood out: perfectly styled hair, a sharp image, a taste for fast cars and the slopes. In short, a far cry from the typical ‘80s rider, often rough around the edges and from humble beginnings.
Born on the western side of Lake Garda, Visentini fought tooth and nail – on and off the bike. He raced head-to-head with one of cycling’s golden generations, featuring champions such as Bernard Hinault, Francesco Moser, Giuseppe Saronni, Gianbattista Baronchelli, Greg LeMond and Laurent Fignon among others. And when the racing ended, polemics often began.
Take the 1983 Giro d’Italia: Visentini lost after a neck-and-neck duel with Saronni that lasted from start to finish. The deciding factor? The controversial time bonuses: 30 seconds to the stage winner, 20 to the runner-up, 10 to third place. Though Visentini regularly distanced Saronni on the climbs, his rival amassed nearly two minutes through bonuses, ultimately winning by just 1 minute and 7 seconds.
“They came up with those ridiculous bonuses to make sure Saronni or Moser – both far more popular than me – would win. Without that gift, I’d have taken this Giro,” Visentini recalled years later. That same edition was also tainted by a bizarre episode: hotel staff in Gorizia were bribed to spike Saronni’s food with a heavy dose of Guttalax (a laxative) in an attempt to tip the race toward Visentini who, for the record, knew nothing about it.
And who could forget the betrayal of Sappada, dating back to 1987? Visentini, then in the Maglia Rosa, was attacked by his own teammate, Stephen Roche, who snatched the jersey and went on to win the Giro. It was one of the most infamous episodes in the race’s glorious history, as well as the moment that marked the beginning of Visentini’s decline.
Before that, Visentini had been a phenomenal rider. A dominant force as a junior – world champion in the category – he was, according to many, one of those many talents who never quite fulfilled their full potential. Yet his record tells a different story: 27 days in the Maglia Rosa across five editions (1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1987), placing him in the all-time Top 10 – tied with Costante Girardengo, ahead of Felice Gimondi, Alberto Contador, and Vincenzo Nibali, and just behind legends like Bernard Hinault, Fausto Coppi, and Miguel Indurain. Five stage wins and the overall triumph in 1986 cement his place among the greats of the Corsa Rosa.
He rode the Giro eight times, finishing runner-up in 1983, withdrawing in 1985 after nine days in pink, but in 1986, nothing could stop him. After a slow start, he roared back, winning Stage 6 into Potenza, clawing back time in the Siena time trial, and dominating in the mountains – notably the Stage 14 finish at Sauze d’Oulx and the decisive Stage 16 summit finish at Foppolo. By the time the race ended in Merano, Visentini had dropped Saronni, Moser, and LeMond.
“The secret of my success? Recovery,” he said at the time. “I have no sprint, everyone knows that. I’m built for stage races. Before, something always went wrong. This time, luck didn’t turn its back on me, and here I am, finally a winner”.
Now, Roberto Visentini joins the Giro d’Italia Hall of Fame. Alongside the Maglia Rosa, he’ll keep the Trofeo Senza Fine – a symbol that his triumphs, heartbreaks, and indomitable spirit will forever be etched in the history of cycling.
