Tour de France Riders Mourn Young Cyclist Samuele Privitera

Before the 12th stage of the Tour de France on Thursday, riders observed a minute of applause to honor Samuele Privitera, a 19-year-old Italian cyclist. Privitera tragically passed away following a crash during a race in Italy the previous day.

The accident occurred on Wednesday during the first stage of the Tour of Valle D’Aosta, held in the municipality of Pontey. Race organizers have stated that the details surrounding the crash are still under investigation by the authorities.

Tadej Pogačar, a prominent contender in the Tour de France, expressed his sorrow before Thursday's stage. He described the loss as devastating and acknowledged the inherent dangers of professional cycling. He extended his condolences to Privitera's family.

Privitera was a member of the Hagens Berman Jayco team, which serves as the development team for Jayco Alula, a team currently competing in the Tour de France. Members of Jayco Alula, including Ben O’Connor, wore black armbands as a mark of respect.

Axel Merckx, the team director of Hagens Berman Jayco, released a statement emphasizing Privitera's vibrant personality and the profound impact of his loss on the team. He described the team as a close-knit family and expressed the unimaginable pain of losing Privitera.

Reports from Italian media indicate that Privitera crashed on a descent, approximately 35 kilometers from the finish line in Aosta, at a speed of nearly 70 kilometers per hour. It was reported that he lost his helmet and collided with a barrier.

Following the tragedy, the second stage of the Tour of Valle D’Aosta was canceled. Teams participating in the race were given the option to decide whether to continue with the third stage scheduled for Friday.