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Cyclist Samuele Privitera died of injuries he sustained in a crash on Wednesday in the first phase of the Tour of Valle d’Aosta in Italy, his team announced. He was 19.
Privitera allegedly hit a speed bump, lost control of his bike and hit his head as he hit a barrier.
He crashed on a descent of approx. 35 kilometers from the finish in Aosta at a speed of almost 70 kilometers per hour, according to Italian media.
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Samuele Privitera from Italy and Team Jayco Alula competes during the 39th Settimana Internazionale Coppi E Bartali 2025, Step 4, 150.4 km Phase from Brisighella to Brisighella Al Cesena March 28, 2025, in Brisighella, Italy. (Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)
He reportedly lost his helmet in the process.
Race organizers said the circumstances of the crash were “still unclear and investigated by public security authorities.”
Privitera was a member of Hagens Berman Jayco team. The team’s director, Axel Merckx, released a statement about the teenager’s death.
“Samuele was and will always be the life and personality of this team,” Merckx said. “This team has always been a small family and moments like this are unimaginable.
“He was irreplaceable. His joy, his spirit, his kindness was always a bright light to the space or race he was ii that moment. Losing him is devastating beyond words.”
Team Jayco Alula takes care of the death of Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera before the start of the twelfth phase of the Tour de France in Hautacam, France, Thursday 17 July 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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The Tour de France Riders took a moment to welcome for a moment during the 12th phase of the race on Thursday in honor of privitera.
“It’s really sad to lose another young talent today. It’s devastating,” said the Tour de France Favorite Tadej Pogačar before Thursday’s scene. “It’s one of the most dangerous sports in the world, I think, and the risk of us taking sometimes is too far. But I’m really really sad for his whole family. May he rest in peace.”
The trip to Valle d’Aosta was put on wait Thursday and resumed Friday.
“This news leaves us shocked, forcing us to think even more resolutely about how we can make our race safer,” the Italian Bicycle Association President Cordiano Dagnoni said in a statement. “The union created a commission some time ago to develop proposals for this case, and we constantly update the rules every year to ensure that such events never happen again.
Australia’s Ben O’Connor bears a grief of grief after the death of Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera, in Hautacam, France, Thursday 17 July 2025. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
“We need to intensify our efforts in this direction. It is a commitment we first and foremost owe our young people, to our clubs and for our entire movement.”
