The saddest news arrives at 11:50 PM: the organizing committee of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta announces that Samuele Privitera is no more.

THE STATEMENT: "The Valdostan Cycling Society is saddened by the premature passing of Samuele Privitera. The rider fell today, during the first stage of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta, in the municipal territory of Pontey. Promptly assisted by the medical service following the race, the young man was transported to the Parini Hospital in Aosta where he unfortunately passed away. The dynamics of the accident are still to be clarified and are under investigation by public safety authorities.

Due to what happened, the organizing committee has decided to cancel the second stage scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, July 17, in Passy. The race will resume with the third stage, scheduled for Friday, July 18, from Pré Saint Didier to Colle del Gran San Bernardo, which will be preceded by a moment of reflection and the initial part of the stage will be neutralized in memory of Samuele. All protocol ceremonies are canceled until the end of the event.

The organizing committee leaves the teams free to choose whether to continue the race starting from the third stage."

THE RECONSTRUCTION. Samuele Privitera's fall occurred 35 kilometers from the finish line; the rider might have been thrown from a bump while descending, at a speed estimated around 70 kilometers per hour. In the fall, the rider lost his helmet and hit a gate (or a house railing, it's not clear). A violent impact that caused Samuele an extremely serious head trauma leading to cardiac arrest. Promptly resuscitated on site, Privitera was then transported to Parini Hospital in Aosta where he passed away this evening.