In 1927, Octavio Bottechia, after having been successful at the Tour De France two times, was found dead on the side of the road. The police report stated that it was the result of a freak bike accident where his head met with a roadside rock. Decades later in the United States, a priest made his deathbed confession and stated that right wing thugs from the Mussolini regime had confessed to having put a hit out on the famed climber. Bottechia was an avowed Socialist and although he was not terribly vocal about his political left wing leanings, the fascist leader had still considered him some kind of a threat, (perhaps in lieu of his increasing popularity - my thought).
Garth Libre in Miami Shores Fl. USA.