Following a horrific crash during the third stage of the Giro d’Italia, Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was confirmed dead by his Leopard-Trek team.
Facts: Wouter Weylandt
Date of birth: September 27, 1984
Place of birth: Ghent, Belgium
Died: May 9, 2011
Teams: Quick Step (2006 – 2010), Leopard (2011)
Principal wins
One-day races: Nokere Koerse 2007, Circuit des bords de l’Escaut flamand 2008, GP Samyn 2009
Stage races: Two stages in Three Days of West Flanders (1 in 2007, 1 in 2009), one stage in Tour of Belgium 2007, 1 stage in Ster Elektrotoer 2007, 1 stage in Tour of Benelux 2007, 1 stage in Circuit Franco-Belge 2010
Grands Tours: Tour of Spain: 1 stage in 2008
Giro d’Italia: 1 stage in 2010
After a crash that took place on the descent of the Bocco mountain pass, Weylandt, aged 26, was found bloodied and unconscious, requiring cardiac massage. This incident occurred approximately 25km from the race’s finish line.
According to race officials, Weylandt’s left pedal had become lodged against a wall at the roadside, causing him to fall roughly 20 metres to the ground.
Race doctors provided emergency medical care, and he was slated for airlift to the hospital, but had to wait as an emergency helicopter looked for an appropriate landing area.
“His heart has stopped beating,” was the announcement made by Auro Bulbarelli, head of sport for RAI television, who was the first to deliver the heartbreaking update.
The news understandably left Weylandt’s Leopard-Trek team, which includes Australia’s Stuart O’Grady and the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank, devastated.
“Today, our teammate and friend Wouter Weylandt passed away after a crash on the third stage of the Giro d’Italia,” stated Leopard-Trek Manager Brian Nygaard.
“The team is reeling in shock and sorrow, and we extend our deepest condolences and thoughts to Wouter’s family and friends.”
“This is a challenging day for cycling and for our team, and we must draw support and strength from those close to us.”
Weylandt, who turned professional in 2006, dedicated most of his career to the Belgian team Quick Step and was the victor of the third stage of the race last year in Middelburg, Netherlands.
Since Kazakhstan’s Andrei Kivilev passed away due to head injuries after a crash on the second stage of Paris-Nice, Weylandt is the first rider to have died in a crash while racing.
Hailing from Ghent, Weylandt is the first casualty on the Giro since 1986 when Emilio Ravasio was involved in a crash on the first stage and fell into a coma, ultimately dying several days later.
In light of this tragedy, race organizers opted to cancel the post-race ceremony in Rapallo, where Spaniard Angel Vicioso of the Androni team had won the stage ahead of David Millar from Britain (Garmin), the new race leader.
by Buford Balony