The Italian cyclist Samual Privitera died on Wednesday after a crash in the Giro della Valle d’Aosta, an annual race in the mountainous Aosta valley in northwestern Italy, confirmed his team on social media. He was 19 years old.
Privitera was thrown out of his chair after touching a speed bump in the municipality of Pontey, According to Italian media. He lost his helmet during the process and clashed at high speed with a gate, which resulted in a serious head injury, and was transported to a local hospital.
Privitera eventually died of his injuries. Axel Merckx, director of his bicycle team, Hagens Berman Jayco, Shared on Wednesday on Instagram That “Samuele was and will always be the life and personality of this team.”
“This team has always been a small family, and such moments are unimaginable,” wrote Merckx. “He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirt, his friendliness, was always a bright light for every room or race in which he was at the time.”
“Losing him is devastating without words,” he went on. “Personally, I have trouble expressing the grief that I feel, but I am deeply grateful for every moment that we shared with him and for the joy he brought to our team every day.”
Privitera competed in the first phase of the race under 23 when he hit his head. The tournament shared a statement Note that he quickly received medical help and was taken to Umberto Parini Hospital. It said that the circumstances of his crash are “still unclear.”
The organizers added that the incident is currently being investigated by “public safety authorities” and confirmed that the second phase of the race was officially canceled on Thursday. The third phase starts on Friday after a moment of silence in honor of Privitera.
Thibault Camus via Associated Press
Colleague cyclistsother teams And The Italian bicycle federation Post genuine tribute to the athlete on social media. Triple Tour de France winner Tadej Pogačar shared a photo of Privitera on Instagram With the words “Rest in peace.”
“It’s really sad to lose a young talent today,” said Pogačar Thursday, Per the corresponding press. “It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, I think, and the risk that we sometimes take is too far. But I am really, very sad for his whole family. May he rest in peace.”
Privitera was Three months shy for his 20th birthday. Merckx ended his tribute with a plea.
“He loved the bike, he loved the camera, he loved smiling, he laughed, but especially he loved his family and his teammates,” he wrote on Wednesday. “Keep Samual’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers while they navigate in the coming days.”
“Rest in peace, Samual,” concluded Merckx. “You will always be part of this team.”
