Franco Bitossi

Franco Bitossi is an Italian former professional cyclist, born on 1 September 1940 in Camaioni di Carmignano. After three years as an amateur he turned professional in October 1961, once he reached the required age of 21, and over a career lasting until 1978 he won a total of 171 races. His successes include the Tour de Suisse and the Zuri-Metzgete in 1965, the Zuri-Metzgete again in 1968, and in 1967 the Tirreno-Adriatico, the Giro di Lombardia and the Coppa Agostoni. In 1968 he became the first Italian to win the points classification at the Tour de France. He took the Italian championship in 1970 and again in 1978, and in 1972 he came within a few metres of the world championship title at Gap, France, beaten only by his teammate Marino Basso. He was nicknamed Cuore matto, meaning crazy heart, because a cardiac arrhythmia often forced him to stop mid stage.