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Italian junior cyclist Samuele Privitera has died aged 19 after a fall during the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta in north west Italy.<\/b><\/p>\n
The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) said circumstances around the incident were “still unclear” but Privitera “apparently hit a speed bump and lost control of his bike” and hit his head on a downhill stretch of road 32km from the finish line.<\/p>\n
Privitera was resuscitated and taken to the hospital in Aosta, near the French and Swiss border, where he later died.<\/p>\n
Axel Merckx, general manager and owner of Privitera’s team Hagens Berman Jayco, said the rider “always will be the life and personality of this team”.<\/p>\n
Merckx added: “Moments like this are unimaginable.<\/p>\n
“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. <\/p>\n
“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 team-mates.”<\/p>\n
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar paid tribute to Privitera, saying: “It’s really sad to lose another young talent. It’s devastating.<\/p>\n
“It’s a dangerous sport, one of the most dangerous in the world and the risks we are taking sometimes is too far.<\/p>\n
“I’m really sad for all his family, may he rest in peace. It’s a sad loss.”<\/p>\n
The Giro della Valle d’Aosta is a men’s under-23 held in the Aosta Valley.<\/p>\n
Thursday’s second stage in Passy was cancelled and the race will resume on Friday with the third stage preceded by a moment of remembrance. The initial section of the stage will be neutralised in memory of Privitera.<\/p>\n
FCI president Cordiano Dagnoni added: “This news leaves us shocked and forces us to think even more decisively about how to make our races safer.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n