Originally Posted by AllenG

This happened for real to Fred A. Birchmore (Fred the First).
When Fred was on his first round the world tour (back in the 30s) Fred was in Tuscan region of Italy, he noticed that he kept passing cyclists with numbers on their backs. When Fred reached the hill town he was greeted by the entire village, Fred had won the race.



http://americanhistory.si.edu/onthem...bject_310.html
^^^
Fred's bicycle "Bucephalus" is now in the Smithsonian Institute.