The cycling world lost a great builder last Thursday, as Giovanni "Nani" Pinarello passed away at the age of 92.

A professional cyclist from 1947 to 1953, he received the black jersey awarded to the last finisher of the 1951 Giro d'Italia. Despite this, the following year, his team withdrew him from the Giro lineup at the very last minute, replacing him with a younger rider. The team gave him a bonus of 100,000 lire (approximately $160) as compensation. With this money, "Nani" decided to establish his workshop to manufacture bicycles that would bear his name.

The Pinarello brand, based in Treviso, Italy, achieved its first major success in 1975 when Fausto Bertoglio won the Giro d'Italia on a Pinarello bicycle. After that, everyone wanted a Pinarello.

Known for his innovation, the charismatic businessman saw his bikes ridden by the greatest, including the unique Miguel Indurain (five-time winner of the Tour de France from 1991 to 1995) as well as other winners of the Tour de France (Pedro Delgado - 1988, Bjarn Riis - 1996, Jan Ullrich - 1997, Oscar Pereiro - 2006, Bradley Wiggins - 2012, and Chris Froome - 2013).

Today, Pinarello is the main sponsor of the prestigious and powerful Team Sky. Still based in Treviso, the leadership of Pinarello was taken over by his son Fausto, who still manages it to this day.