Federico Gay

During World War I, a very young Federico Gay served as an aviator, and was awarded the military valor silver medal. After the War, he started competitive cycling and in 1919-20 enjoyed some significant victories like the Coppa Zanardelli, Coppa del Re and Giro del Sestriere. He also competed in the 1920 Antwerpen Olympics, finishing fifth in the team road race, and 16th individually.

Gay turned professional after the Olympics, and impressed with a fourth place in the Milano-Modena, seventh in the Giro di Lombardia and ninth at the Italian Road Race Championships. The following year he won five races, including the Milano-Torino, Genova-Ventimiglia and the Giro del Sestriere. He also won the Italian Championships for young professionals. In 1922, Gay won the 13th stage in the 300 km Strasbourg-Metz race and finished 11th overall in the Tour de France. Two years later he won four stages in the Giro d’Italia and was second overall, 58 minutes behind winner Giuseppe Enrici. That same year, Gay won the Milano-Torino race, was third in the Giro del Veneto, and finished second to the great Costante Girardengo at the Italian championships. He competed in his second Tour de France in 1925 and finished 10th overall. He did win that year’s Zürich-Berlin, after which he turned to motor-paced races, and in 1932 won the Italian Championship.