An icon of 1920s’ European sport, Ottavio Bottecchia (1894-1927) was the first Italian to don the world-renowned yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Born into an impoverished family, the eighth of nine children, in San Martino di Colle Umberto,Treviso, Bottecchia had almost no schooling and did not learn to read until after he won the Tour. His life and career were tragically cut short on 15 June 1927. He set off on a routine training ride and was found dead three hours later with shocking head wounds. He is thought to have targeted by Fascist thugs against whom he was a magnet of resistance.