Mario Cipollini revealed that he had a serious heart condition and had to undergo surgery.

Cipollini underwent five hours of heart surgery in late October to treat a myocardial bridge (a condition in which the heart muscle grows around the coronary arteries and constricts blood flow). He also underwent ablation of the right ventricle to resolve an irregular heartbeat, and a biopsy confirmed that he had a viral infection that affects the heart and causes myocarditis and inflammation of heart tissue.

Cipollini felt a problem while riding and was examined by Roberto Corsetti, a former Liquigas team doctor. Corsetti confirmed that Cipollini could have died had he not received a complete diagnosis and treatment. He will have to wait several months to see if he makes a full recovery.

"I am now facing a headwind, but I am used to suffering," Cipollini said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"It was strange to be diagnosed with a heart condition because as an athlete I felt healthy, strong, and in perfect health. But it wasn't. When I pushed at 500 watts on the climb, I knew something was wrong.

"I was lucky to get to know Dr. Corsetti because some people don't get the same kind of support. It also made me think that I may have been pushing my heart too hard in my career, and I knew that I was limited by genetic issues.

Cipollini's professional career and personal life have made headlines since his retirement in 2008.

In 2013, the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport published evidence of Cipollini's relationship with Dr. Eufemiano Fuentes, winning the world championships in Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, and Zolder in the 2002 He was implicated in a doping investigation by Operacion Puerto because of his alleged use of EPO and repeated blood transfusions during the season.

Cipollini threatened a lawsuit against La Gazzetta dello Sport, but the dispute appears to be over, and the newspaper has recently published a number of interviews with him. Operacion Puerto was then officially closed, and even after WADA conducted DNA testing of the evidence, many of the players involved were never identified due to the statute of limitations.

Cipollini is on trial in his hometown of Lucca for threatening his ex-wife, Sabrina Landucci. She recently claimed in court that Cipollini physically abused her and pointed a gun at her head. Cipollini has yet to give evidence and has refused to comment on the trial.

"No comment. It would not be right for me to speak before I speak to the judge," Cipollini told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Instead, he spoke at length about his heart problems and the need for preventive checkups.

"It is a serious problem and can have dire consequences. Doctors told me that in my case it was a virus. There is no direct cure, just rest and relaxation. I feel great after the surgery, and I can only hope that I will be OK in January," he said, offering advice for those with heart concerns. [Early diagnosis is important, and you need to take a good look at yourself and not ignore things. I hope that by clarifying my heart issues, I can help others. The medical check to get a [racing] license is not that detailed. Fortunately, technology is helping a lot these days and may save some of the lives that would otherwise be lost due to what seems to be fatal.

"I'm in the middle of a personal battle and I intend to win this one too. I am 52 years old and I still have things I want to do in life. I have decided to look into every aspect of my problems for the sake of my daughters. Knowing that I have a congenital problem may save my daughters in the future."