The directeur sportif of an Italian elite team has been killed after he was hit by a rider who crashed at high speed in a group sprint yesterday.
Stefano Martolini (41), who managed the Viris Vigevano Italian team, was on the pavement watching the final sprint of Trofeo Castelfidardo in Italy’s Marche region on Sunday when a rider appeared to lose control and crashed into him.
Nicola Venchiarutti (23) of the UCI Continental team Work Service Vitalcare Vega was among the riders who crashed and he was seriously injured. He suffered fractured vertebrae and head injuries but was expected to recover. He has since undergone surgery and was said to be responding well to treatment.
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Martolini was standing at the side of the road with about 300 metres to go and was hit by one of the riders who mounted the pavement as he was crashing. It has been reported in Italy that Martolini fell backwards and banged his head off the ground, causing his death.
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While efforts were made to revive him, he was pronounced dead a short time later. He was described by the Italian national governing body as a “passionate” directeur who encouraged younger riders on road and track.
He had gone to Sunday’s race, a non-UCI classified event for elite and U23 teams and featuring some Continental squads, with four cyclists from his team, which is headquartered in Vigevano near Milan.
An investigation is underway into the fatal crash, which appears to have been a tragic accident. Local police have asked people who were recording videos at the finish to submit them to the police team working on the inquiry.
