Former Italian professional cyclist Vito Taccone passed away on Monday after suffering a heart attack. The 67 year-old, who raced during the 60s, was best known for his climbing abilities, having won the climber's jersey at the Giro d'Italia twice during his career in 1961 and 1963. Taccone also finished in the top 10 in the general classification at the Giro four years in a row - fourth in 1963, sixth in '64 and '65 and 9th in '66.
In 1961, the first year he won the climbers jersey at the Giro, Taccone won the Giro di Lombardia classic in Italy, a prestigious win for any Italian. Other notable results on his palmares are stage wins in the Giro del Piemonte (1962), the Tour of Tuscany (1963), Milan-Turin (1965) as well as overall wins in Tour of Sardinia (1963), Tour of Romandie (1964) and the Tour of Switzerland (1966). Taccone's best result at a World Championships came in his home country in 1968, where he took fifth place at the event held at Imola.
