Former professional cyclist Pascal Hervé, who wore the pink jersey during the 1996 Giro d’Italia died on Wednesday, as announced by the National Union of Professional Cyclists (UNCP). He was 60 years old.
In a post on X, the UNCP said: “The great cycling family is in mourning. It is with deep sadness that we learn of the death of Pascal Hervé. Pascal was an emblematic figure and an essential voice of our sport. Our thoughts are with his family. Sincere condolences to his loved ones.”
A star rider of the ’90s
Hervé was one of the top riders in his time, winning a stage of the Giro d’Italia, placing 12th in the Tour de France, and winning the Trophée des Grimpeurs, the Grand Prix de Plouay, and a stage of the Tour de Suisse. As well as the pink jersey, he also wore the polka dots at the Tour de France. In 1992, he won the French national road championships as an amateur.
Quoi qu’on en dise, j’ai admiré ce champion de caractère. Il nous quitte le jour de Noël, quelle tristesse ! RIP Pascal Hervé. #pascalherve pic.twitter.com/00BTAeE66b
— Rollandin Eric (@EricRollandin) December 25, 2024
His career ended abruptly following a positive test at the 2001 Giro d’Italia. He was also part of the infamous Festina doping scandal in 1998, for which he was suspended for two months alongside riders like Richard Virenque.
The circumstances of Pascal Hervé’s death have not been disclosed, but he revealed last September that he had undergone surgery earlier in the year for a “cancerous tumour in the stomach,” which included a “complete removal of the stomach.”
Many of his former teammates and riders of the era took to X to pay tribute. Christophe Moreau posted:
“No words… only tears and deep sadness. We will miss you, my Calou. Rest in peace, my friend.”
Les mots de Richard Virenque suite au décès de Pascal Hervé #pascalherve 🕯#cycling
📸 Richard Virenque (IG) pic.twitter.com/N9Dd7yB7Xe— Miroir du Cyclisme (@Miroir2Cyclisme) December 26, 2024
Former world champion Laurent Brochard, who raced with Hervé at Festina, wrote:
“Pascal, my buddy, I am so upset. You left on Christmas night, my friend; you were so rock’n’roll until the end. I will hold onto so many memories, so many good times. I have no words. You were always there, always had something to say, even in hard times. I love you and send you my love, my friend. We will meet again; I will miss you.”
Hervé was born in Tours, France, but relocated to…
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