Franco Bitossi
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Franco Bitossi |
| Nickname | Cuore matto (Crazy heart) |
| Date of birth | September 1, 1940 |
| Country | Italy |
| Team information | |
| Current team | Retired |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
| Major wins | |
| Tour de France green jersey (1968) Tirreno-Adriatico (1967) |
|
| Infobox last updated on: | |
| April 16, 2007 | |
| Medal record | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Competitor for  Italy |
|||
| Road bicycle racing | |||
| World Championships | |||
| Silver | 1972 Gap | Elite Men's Road Race | |
| Bronze | 1977 San Christóbal | Elite Men's Road Race | |
Franco Bitossi (born September 1, 1940) is an Italian former professional cyclist. He was born in Camaioni di Carmignano.
He started as professional in 1961, winning a total of 171 races until 1978. In 1965 he won the the Tour de Suisse and the Züri-Metzgete (which he won again in 1968). In 1967 he won Tirreno-Adriatico, Giro di Lombardia and Coppa Agostoni, while the following year he became the first (and sole) Italian to win the maillot vert (points) final classification. In 1970 he was Italian champion.
In 1972 he was famous for the near victory at the World Championship in Gap, France, where he was overcome a few meters from the arrival by his teammate Marino Basso. Four year later he won again the Italian Championship.
Bitossi was nicknamed Cuore matto ("Crazy heart") due to a cardiac arrythmia which often compelled him to stop midway in a stage.
[edit] Palmares
- 1965
- Tour de Suisse
- Züri-Metzgete
- 1966
- 1966 Tour de France:
- Winner stages 5 and 17
- 1967
- Tirreno-Adriatico
- Giro di Lombardia
- Coppa Agostoni
- 1968
- Züri-Metzgete
- 1968 Tour de France:
Points classification- Winner stages 7 and 16
- 1969
- Giro d'Italia:
Maglia ciclamino
- Coppa Agostoni
- 1970
- Italy national road race champion
- Giro d'Italia:
- Maglia ciclamino
- Giro di Lombardia
- Volta a Catalunya
- 1971
- Coppa Agostoni
- 1976
- Italy national road race champion
| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jan Janssen |
Winner of the green jersey in the Tour de France 1968 |
Succeeded by Eddy Merckx |
