Italian Cyclist Samuele Privitera, 19, Dies After Crashing During Race

Cyclist Samuele Privitera died from injuries he sustained successful a clang Wednesday during nan first shape of nan Tour of Valle D’Aosta in Italy, his squad announced. He was 19.

Privitera reportedly deed a velocity bump, mislaid power of his motorcycle and deed his caput arsenic he struck a barrier.

He collapsed connected a descent of astir 35 kilometers from nan decorativeness successful Aosta astatine a velocity of almost 70 kilometers per hour, according to Italian media.

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Samuele Privitera of Italy and Team Jayco AlUla competes during nan 39th Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali 2025, Stage 4, 150.4 km shape from Brisighella to Brisighella al Cesena March 28, 2025, successful Brisighella, Italy. (Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

He reportedly mislaid his helmet successful nan process.

Race organizers said nan circumstances of nan clang were "still unclear and are being investigated by nationalist information authorities."

Privitera was a personnel of nan Hagens Berman Jayco team. The team’s director, Axel Merckx, released a connection connected nan teen’s death.

"Samuele was and ever will beryllium nan life and characteristic of this team," Merckx said. "This squad has ever been a mini family, and moments for illustration this are unimaginable. 

"He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness was ever a agleam ray to immoderate room aliases title that he was successful astatine that moment. To suffer him is devastating beyond words."

Team Jayco Alula mourns nan decease of Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera earlier nan commencement of nan twelfth shape of nan Tour de France successful Hautacam, France, Thursday, July 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

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Tour de France riders took a infinitesimal to applaud for a infinitesimal during nan 12th shape of nan title Thursday successful grant of Privitera.

"It’s really sad to suffer different young talent today. It’s devastating," Tour de France favourite Tadej Pogačar said earlier Thursday’s stage. "It is 1 of nan astir vulnerable sports successful nan world, I think, and nan consequence that we are taking sometimes is excessively far. But I’m really really really sad for each his family. May he remainder successful peace."

The Tour of Valle D’Aosta was put connected clasp Thursday and will resume Friday.

"This news leaves america shocked and forces america to deliberation moreover much decisively astir really to make our races safer," Italian Cycling Federation President Cordiano Dagnoni said successful a statement. "The federation established a committee immoderate clip agone to create proposals connected this matter, and we perpetually update nan regulations each twelvemonth to guarantee specified incidents ne'er hap again. 

Australia's Ben O'Connor wears a mourning set aft nan decease of Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera, successful Hautacam, France, Thursday, July 17, 2025.  (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

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"We must intensify our efforts successful this direction. It is an responsibility we beryllium first and foremost to our young people, to our clubs and to our full movement."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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