Virginio Pizzali competed in the team pursuit at the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. In the first round he fell, breaking his collarbone, and could not continue. Although the Italian team would win gold in the event, Pizzali never received a medal for his contribution. Another fall at the 1959 World Championships cost him another title when he was leading the motor-paced race near the end.
Pizzali won four Italian track championships from 1958-62. He later lived mostly in Paris, where he raced on velodromes there in the golden years of track cycling.
Italy