The Giro della Valle d’Aosta has cancelled stage 2 tomorrow, Thursday, and the race has been thrown into mourning, after one of Adam Rafferty's Hagens Berman Jayco team mates died after crashing on today's opening stage.
Samuele Privitera, a 19-year-old Italian, was also on the team with Ireland's Rafferty last year. He had been called up to the Jayco AlUla World Tour team with the Irishman for Coppi e Bartali (2.1) back in March.
He sadly crashed on the 85.4km Giro della Valle d’Aosta stage 1 on Wednesday, starting and finishing in Aosta. Though taken to hospital for treatment, he was later pronounced dead.
Axel Merckx, the team's owner and general manager, said he was heartbroken to confirm the teenager's passing, saying it was "news no one in our community ever wanted to hear".
Advertisement
"Our rider, our teammate, and our dear friend, Samuele Privitera, has passed away following the race at Giro Val d’Aosta," he said in a statement. "Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team.
"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 whatever room or race that he was in at that moment.
"To lose him is devastating beyond words. Personally, I am struggling to express the sadness I feel but I am deeply grateful for every moment we shared with him and for the joy he brought to our team every single day.
Related News
"He loved the bike, he loved the camera, he loved to smile, he loved to laugh, but most of all he loved his family and his teammates.
"Please keep Samuele’s family and friends in your thoughts and prayers as they navigate the days ahead. On behalf of everyone at Hagens Berman Jayco, thank you for standing with us and honoring Samuele’s memory. Rest in peace, Samuele. You will always be part of this team."
The race organisers said the "circumstances of the accident are still unclear and are being investigated by public safety authorities", expressing their sorrow at the death of the young Italian.
"In light of the events, the organising committee has decided to cancel the second stage scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, July 17th, in Passy. The race will resume with the third stage, scheduled for Friday the 18th, from Pré Saint Didier to Col du Gran San Bernardo.
"This will be preceded by a moment of silence, and the initial stretch of the stage will be neutralised in memory of Samuele. All formal ceremonies are canceled until the end of the event. The organising committee is giving teams the freedom to decide whether to continue the race starting with the third stage."
While of no consequence now, Rafferty had finished the opening stage in 11th place, in a breakaway that gained 2:44 on the bunch.
New Irish U23 champion Jamie Meehan (AVC Aix Provence Dole) is also in the race alongside compatriots Patrick Casey (Israel Premier Tech Academy), Liam O'Brien (Lidl - Trek Future Racing) and Killian O'Brien (Petrolike), all of whom were in the bunch today.
