Coming from a family of cyclists Miguel Silva Neto was destined for great things, and he went on to win five Brazilian road cycling championships. In 1972 Neto was selected to ride in the road race at the München Olympics, but did not finish the course. He had better success back in South America, including finishing on the podium of stages at the Vuelta a Uruguay and winning the prestigious 9th of July International Cycling Race in 1977. One year later Neto won the 500 Millas del Norte race, also in Uruguay, before placing eighth in the road race at the 1979 Pan American Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Brazil