A tragedy at the Italian under-23 race Giro della Valle d'Aosta 2025. The 19-year-old Italian Samuele Privitera died on Wednesday after a severe crash. The organizers of the Giro della Valle d'Aosta have decided to cancel the second stage of the race. On Friday, the race will continue partially neutralized.
The talented rider from Hagens Berman Jayco, currently the development team of Jayco AlUla, crashed on a descent. During the fall, Privitera lost his helmet and hit his head against a fence. Emergency responders performed CPR on-site, and he was then taken in critical condition to the Parini Hospital in Aosta. There it was confirmed that Privitera had passed away.
Privitera went down along with several riders. Notably, Dutch rider Jurgen Zomermaand of Development Team Picnic PostNL also crashed and left the race due to a broken collarbone. Besides Zomermaand, six other riders abandoned the race, but it is not clear if they were all involved in the same incident.
Earlier this year, Privitera finished second in a stage of the Istrian Spring Trophy. Last season, as a first-year under-23 rider, he also placed third in a stage of the Giro Next Gen. He was only nineteen years old.
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
For Axel Merckx, team manager of Hagens Berman Jayco, the death of Samuele Privitera is a huge shock. "It is with a heavy heart that I share news that nobody ever wants to hear. Our rider, teammate and dear friend, Samuele Privitera, passed away yesterday at the Giro Val d’Aosta."
"Samuele was and will always be the heart and soul of this team. Our squad has always been like a small family, and this is unimaginable. He was irreplaceable. His joy, enthusiasm, and kindness were always a bright spot, no matter which room or race he was in at the moment. Losing him now is indescribably heartbreaking."
"I personally find it hard to put my grief into words, but I am so thankful for every moment we shared with him. And for the joy he brought to our team every day. Samuele loved the bike and the camera. He loved laughing and having fun, but above all, he loved his family and teammates. Rest in peace, Samuele. You will always be part of this team."
