Privitera, 19, Dies After Crash At Italian Race

Italian inferior cyclist Samuele Privitera has died aged 19 aft a autumn during nan opening shape of nan Giro della Valle d'Aosta successful northbound westbound Italy.

The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) said circumstances astir nan incident were "still unclear" but Privitera "apparently deed a velocity bump and mislaid power of his bike" and deed his caput connected a downhill agelong of roadworthy 32km from nan decorativeness line.

Privitera was resuscitated and taken to nan infirmary successful Aosta, adjacent nan French and Swiss border, wherever he later died.

Axel Merckx, wide head and proprietor of Privitera's squad Hagens Berman Jayco, said nan rider "always will beryllium nan life and characteristic of this team".

Merckx added: "Moments for illustration this are unimaginable.

"To suffer him is devastating beyond words. Personally, I americium struggling to definitive nan sadness I consciousness but I americium profoundly grateful for each infinitesimal we shared pinch him and for nan joyousness he brought to our squad each azygous day.

"He loved nan bike, he loved nan camera, he loved to smile, he loved to laugh, but astir of each he loved his family and his team-mates."

The Giro della Valle d'Aosta is simply a men's under-23 held successful nan Aosta Valley.

Thursday's 2nd shape successful Passy was cancelled and nan title will resume connected Friday pinch nan 3rd shape preceded by a infinitesimal of remembrance. The first conception of nan shape will beryllium neutralised successful representation of Privitera.

FCI president Cordiano Dagnoni added: "This news leaves america shocked and forces america to deliberation moreover much decisively astir really to make our races safer."