Cesare Zanzottera

Cesare Zanzottera was a top Italian cyclist in the first decade of the 20th century. Prior to his Olympic appearance he won events both on the track and the road, winning the 1908 Italian title in the sprint, and the 1907 Coppa del Re. In 1906 he had finished 3rd in the Coppa del Re and second in Milano-Modène. After the 1908 Olympics, Zanzottera turned professional, joining the Legnano team, and won the Milano-Modène race in 1909. He also raced three times in the Giro d’Italia, placing well down in 1909 and not finishing in 1910-11. In 1920 he was third in the Giro del Piemonte. Official records do not list Zanzottera as competing in the 1908 Olympics, but rather have Luigi Azzini on the Italian pursuit team. But Italian cycling historians are quite definitive that it was Zanzottera who raced, and not Azzini, who withdrew.