Cyclist Francesco Veri won the 1905 Italian sprint title, but his best was to come the following year when he won the world sprint title in Geneva, and then three gold medals at the Intercalated Olympics in Athens. At the same Games he helped the famous Italian runner Dorando Pietri during the marathon, but he was forced to quit the race. Pietri claimed notoriety at the London Olympics two years later.
Verri went on to win the Italian sprint title seven more times, 1907-11 and 1920-21. In 1915 he won the Chicago Six Day Race with the great Swiss cyclist, and racing cycle designer, Oscar Egg. In the 1930s, Verri became a cycling coach, and one of his pupils was the 1934 sprint world champion, Benedetto Pola. Verri died following a car accident on the way home after dinner with racing driver Tazio Nuvolari, world champion cyclist Learco Guerra and other friends. The car was driven by another friend, Alfredo Santini, who was injured in the accident, and Verri died instantly.
Italy