Vigor Cycling and the entire cycling world mourn Claudio Mattio who tragically died yesterday in a car accident in Val Varaita. President of the Cuneo-based team, the 66-year-old from Piasco had not been heard from since late morning yesterday, so his family members alerted the authorities who launched a search: unfortunately the lifeless body of the man was found near his car at the bottom of a ravine along the descent towards Sampeyre.

A former cyclist, Claudio Mattio had raced in the Amateur category and then worked as a Sports Director and race organizer before taking on management positions within Vigor Cycling.

Many messages of condolence have been shared following the sudden loss of a man well-known in the cycling community. On social media, his daughter Erika wrote: «Thank you for being close to us, my dad was always a lover of life, travel, cycling and all the people he met. He will always be with us, between a pedal stroke and a laugh, with his cell phone always in hand, full of ideas to organize championships and trips».

In a statement, the Piedmont Regional Committee of the Italian Cycling Federation remembered Claudio Mattio for his «Unstoppable passion for cycling» and his great attention to organizational aspects during events. Furthermore: «Claudio loved to discuss cycling in all its aspects, proudly telling about the results of his own team which helped develop many cycling talents, such as Elisa Balsamo and Pietro Mattio».

Photo La Stampa