I happened across this Oscar-winning yet totally unknown 1979 flick in the vaste wasteland of cable TV a month or so ago. It’s the Rocky of the now-popular fixie culture, the Chariots of Fire of Tour de France-types: a fun, serious, fascinating profile of a poor young American madly in love with all things involving two wheels and racing. 

Trailer:

Classic Scene:

The fake Italian serenade:

 
Random scene, featuring (a young) Dennis Quaid: