Cyclist Samuele Privitera passes away at 19 after crash during Italy race
Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera passed away at age 19 in a crash during the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta bicycle race.
The tragic news was announced by Axel Merckx, the manager of his cycling team Hagens Berman Jayco.
"It is with a very heavy heart that I share news no one in our community ever wanted to hear. Our rider, our teammate, and our dear friend, Samuele Privitera, has passed away following the race yesterday at Giro Val d’Aosta," he said in a statement.
He highlighted how Privitera "was and always will be the life and personality of this team" and described him as "irreplaceable."
"This team has always been a small family, and moments like this are unimaginable," Merckx continued. "His joy, his spirit, his kindness, was always a bright light to whatever room or race that he was in at that moment. To lose him is devastating beyond words."
"Personally, I am struggling to express the sadness I feel but I am deeply grateful for every moment we shared with him and for the joy he brought to our team every single day. He loved the bike, he loved the camera, he loved to smile, he loved to laugh, but most of all he loved his family and his teammates," he continued.
He asked the public to pray for Privitera's family and friends as they navigate this tough time.
According to a report by ESPN, the junior cyclist had been going nearly 45 mph during a descent in the northwestern municipality of Pontey. He had lost his helmet and collided with a gate.
While he was rushed to a nearby hospital, he eventually succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities are now looking into circumstances on what caused the crash.
Following the incident, the Tour de France riders applauded for a full minute in respect for Privitera. Three-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar also paid tribute to him and called the loss "devastating."
"It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world I think, and the risk that we are taking sometimes is too far. But I’m really really really sad for all his family. May he rest in peace," he said, per The Associated Press.
The second stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta has now been cancelled and the participating teams are being given a choice whether they still want to continue on with the next part of the race.
