Renato Longo (9 August 1937 – 8 June 2023) was an Italian cyclo-cross racer. Longo won the World Cyclo-cross Championships five times in 1959, 1962, 1964, 1965 and 1967 and was the Italian Cyclo-cross champion 12 times.[1]

Renato Longo
Longo before 1972
Personal information
Born(1937-08-09)9 August 1937
Vittorio Veneto, Italy
Died8 June 2023(2023-06-08) (aged 85)
Conegliano, Italy
Team information
Current teamRetired
DisciplineCyclo-cross
RoleRider
Professional team
1960–1972Salvarani
Major wins
Cyclo-cross World Champion
(1959, 1962, 1964–1965 and 1967)
 Italy Cyclo-Cross champion
(1959–1960, 1962, 1964–1972)
Medal record
Representing  Italy
Men's cyclo-cross
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 1959 Geneva Elite
Silver medal – second place 1961 Hanover Elite
Gold medal – first place 1962 Esch-sur-Alzette Elite
Silver medal – second place 1963 Calais Elite
Gold medal – first place 1964 Overboelare Elite
Gold medal – first place 1965 Cavaria Elite
Gold medal – first place 1967 Zürich Elite
Bronze medal – third place 1969 Magstadt Elite

Biography

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Longo competed as a professional from 1960 to 1972 and for most of his career, he rode with the Salvarani team of Felice Gimondi. Longo's first wins in the World Championships in 1959 and 1962 were obtained after a battle with German Rolf Wolfshohl who won the title ahead of Longo in 1960, 1961 and 1963. In 1964, Wolfshohl focused on road racing and Longo became the master of cyclo-cross until Eric De Vlaeminck arrived – although Longo beat de Vlaeminck for his last world title in 1967.[2] In total he won more than 230 cyclo-cross races in his professional career.

Longo died on 8 June 2023, at the age of 85.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Renato Longo". de wielersite.nl. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  2. ^ "Renato Longo-the long-legged baker". WK Veldrijden 2006.nl. Retrieved 14 February 2008.
  3. ^ "Addio a Renato Longo, leggenda del ciclocross". V:Sport. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2023.