Franco Ongarato

Franco Ongarato was an Italian cyclist who raced for Ciclisti Padovani until 1968, when he moved to Pedale Ravennate and obtained 14 victories. In 1970, in addition to placements at the Milk Race in England, he won two stages at the Tour of Bulgaria, while in the following season he won two stages of the Friedensfahrt. He also finished third at München in the pre-Olympic test.

Ongarato competed at the 1972 Olympics in the individual road race, and then turned pro in 1973 with Dreher and had some good placements in the Tirreno-Adriatico, finished eighth at Milano-Sanremo, and was third in stage nine of the Giro d’Italia. His last race was in May 1974 at the Giro delle Puglie, finishing fourth.

Ongarato had already signed a new contract with Magniflex team when, on 15 August, taking a dip in the sea in Lignano Sabbiadoro, he fractured two vertebrae, remaining paralyzed for a year. A slow and partial recovery followed, but at 25 he had to end his cycling career. Ongarato later joined the world of tennis, managing the Lignano Sabbiadoro tennis club until 1994.