RIP. An era has come to an end! The man who returned Spain to the Tour de France podium has died

Spanish sport has suffered a major loss with the passing of a pioneer and symbol of the revival of the nation's road cycling.

Details: Celebrated Spanish cyclist Ángel Arroyo, who returned Spain to the Tour de France podium, has died at the age of 70. The news was reported by the respected Spanish publication Marca.

The former professional athlete passed away in a hospital in the city of Ávila after a long battle with a serious illness. Arroyo's hometown municipality of El Barraco has declared two days of official mourning as a sign of deep respect for the pioneer of Spanish victories on the international stage.

Arroyo's name entered the annals of sport forever thanks to his performance in the 1983 Grande Boucle. That year, the Spaniard finished second in the general classification, behind only Frenchman Laurent Fignon, and also produced a sensation by winning the mountain time trial on the famous ascent of the Puy de Dôme.

It is worth noting that Ángel Arroyo's historic success in 1983 ended Spain's decade-long drought on the Tour de France podium dating back to Luis Ocaña's victory in 1973. It also paved the way for the triumphs of Pedro Delgado and Miguel Induráin, while Arroyo himself went on to finish on the podium of the Vuelta a España during his career.

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