Pierfranco Vianelli came to the 1968 Mexico City Olympics as a favorite in the road race, having won the GC at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta earlier in the year, and two Grand Prix races in 1967. He did not disappoint, winning the gold medal in the road race and helping Italy to a bronze medal in the team time trial. He turned professional after the Olympics and rode in the pro peloton from 1969-72, starting with Eddy Merckx’s Molteni team. Vianelli finished seventh at the 1969 Tour de France, but his only major professional win came on stage 17 of the 1971 Giro d’Italia, in which he finished fifth overall and second in the mountains classification.
Italy