Italian Cyclist Samuele Privitera, 19, Dies After Crash During Giro della Valle d'Aosta Race

Samuele Privitera

A 19-year-old Italian cyclist, Samuele Privitera, has died after a tragic accident during the Giro della Valle d'Aosta in northwest Italy. The young athlete reportedly hit a speed bump while riding downhill about 32 kilometers from the finish line, lost control of his bike, and suffered a fatal head injury.

Privitera was immediately transported to a hospital in Aosta, where he was later pronounced dead on Wednesday, July 16. The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) confirmed the news, stating that the exact circumstances surrounding the accident remain unclear and are under investigation.

Privitera, a native of Soldano, Italy, was in his second year racing with the Hagens Berman Jayco team. In a heartfelt statement posted online, the team expressed devastation over his loss: “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.”

Samuele Privitera

As a result of the tragedy, Thursday’s second stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta was canceled. The race will resume on Friday, with a neutralized opening segment and a moment of remembrance in Privitera’s honor. All formal ceremonies have been suspended for the remainder of the event.

Privitera’s management agency, TEAMVISION Cycling, also paid tribute: “Samu, wherever you were, there was light. And wherever you are now, your exuberance will continue to illuminate every space. You touched so many lives — with your spirit, your energy, your smile. You will remain forever in our hearts.”

The FCI described Privitera as “a generous athlete and a good climber,” and President Cordiano Dagnoni conveyed his condolences to Privitera’s family while emphasizing the importance of increased race safety. “This news leaves us shocked and forces us to think even more decisively about how to make our races safer,” Dagnoni stated. “The Federation established a commission some time ago to develop proposals on this matter, and we constantly update the regulations every year to ensure such incidents never happen again. We must intensify our efforts in this direction: it is an obligation we owe first and foremost to our young people, to our clubs, and to our entire movement.”

In solidarity, riders in the Tour de France held a moment of tribute for Privitera before beginning their stage on Thursday.