Franz Seidl

Franz Seidl was an Austrian professional cyclist who began his career in 1898, and competed at the 1900 Paris Olympics. He reached the fourth round in the professional sprint, finished second together with German Anton Huber in the professional tandem sprint, and participated in the professional team sprint.

Around 1900 Seidl was the fourth best foreign rider in Germany, winning 40 national races between 1896 and 1903. In 1903 he changed to automobile racing and some years later to aviation racing. On a flight from Wien (Vienna) to Wien Neustadt his plane caught fire and Seidl sustained severe injuries, but he survived. In 1913 he crashed when approaching an airfield, having taken a curve too tightly, suffered multiple serious injuries, and died on transport to hospital.