Italian cyclist Samuele Privitera died following a crash during the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, his team Hagens Berman Jayco said late Wednesday. He was 19.
Privitera crashed while going nearly 45 mph during a descent in the northwestern municipality of Pontey, losing his helmet and colliding with a gate, Italian media reported. He was transported to a hospital but died from his injuries.
Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
"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," Axel Merckx, owner of Hagens Berman Jayco, said in a statement. "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."
Hagens Berman Jayco Mourns The Loss of Samuele Priviterahttps://t.co/hX9Z4H3k4i pic.twitter.com/TQdtU7dtOC
— Hagens Berman Jayco (@HBAxeon) July 16, 2025
At the Tour de France, riders applauded for a minute before Thursday's 12th stage in memory of Privitera.
Hagens Berman Jayco is the development team for Jayco Alula, which is racing at the Tour de France and whose members, including Ben O'Connor, wore black armbands.
"It's really sad to lose another young talent today. It's devastating," Tour de France favorite Tadej Pogačar said before Thursday's stage. "It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, I think, and the risk that we are taking sometimes is too far. But I'm really, really, really sad for all his family. May he rest in peace."
The second stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, which takes place in northern Italy's Aosta Valley near the French border, was canceled, and participating teams were being given a choice whether to continue with the third stage Friday.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.