Pogacar emotional after death of Aussie team cyclist

Yahoo

3 days ago

Tour de France champion Tadej Pogacar has marked his latest extraordinary triumph by dedicating it to 19-year-old Samuele Privitera, the youngster who died in a crash while racing for Australian outfit Jayco AlUla's development team in Italy.
Cyclists at the Tour de France were left crestfallen at the news of the teenage Italian's death during the first stage of the Tour of Valle D'Aosta in the north-western municipality of Pontey on Wednesday.
The Tour de France peloton gathered to give a minute's applause before they began the 12th stage on Thursday, and then champion and new race leader Pogacar paid his own emotional tribute after his stunning victory on the Hautacam climb.
🗣️ "This climb came in 2022, I was behind in the GC, I was trying to break through the wall to get back the yellow jersey but Jumbo (Visma-LAB) were too strong back then. I already forgot about this, I was just looking forward to today. But I had people coming to me saying: 'This… pic.twitter.com/JcpdaKXsCS
— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 17, 2025
The Slovenian all-time great said he had been thinking of the youngster for the last kilometre of his brilliant solo win.
"I think this stage can go to Samuele and all his family," said the visibly emotional Pogacar afterwards.
"It was really sad, the first thing I read in the morning, and I was thinking the last kilometre about him and how tough this sport can be and how much pain it can cause."
The UCI is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Under-23 cyclist Samuele Privitera.Our thoughts are with his family, friends, teammates and everyone who supported him. Samuele's loss is felt across the cycling community.📸 @HBAxeon / Joe Cotterill pic.twitter.com/7v46YiCy66
— UCI (@UCI_cycling) July 17, 2025
Before the day's stage, he had added: "It's really sad to lose another young talent today, it's devastating.
"It is one of the most dangerous sports in the world, 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."
Privitera had been part of the Hagens Berman Jayco team, the development team for Australia's only WorldTour team Jayco AlUla, whose riders, headed by their world championship silver medallist Ben O'Connor, all wore black armbands on Thursday's stage.
"Samuele was and always will be the life and personality of this team," Hagens Berman Jayco team director Axel Merckx said in a statement.
"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.
Statement regarding Hagens Berman Jayco rider Samuele Privitera pic.twitter.com/wJdXBXkFOO
— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) July 16, 2025
Italian media reported that Privitera had crashed on a descent about 35km from the finish in Aosta at a speed of almost 70kph. He reportedly lost his helmet and crashed into a barrier.
Race organisers said on Thursday the circumstances of the accident were "still unclear and are being investigated by public safety authorities".
The second stage of the Tour of Valle D'Aosta was cancelled after the tragedy, with teams given a choice about whether to continue with the third stage on Friday.