SPANISH cycling professionals have flooded social networks with grief-stricken messages after hearing of the death of their Italian colleague, Michele Scarponi, who was knocked down by a van whilst out training.
Alberto Contador, whose victory in the Giro d'Italia (Italy's answer to the Tour de France) in 2011 was taken off him when he was disqualified due to doping concerns, making Scarponi the outright winner, says he is 'paralysed and without words' at the loss of a 'great person' who 'always had a contagious smile'.
“RIP, friend,” Contador wrote on Twitter.
Recent Valona winner Alejandro Valverde wrote: “I've no words. A great person and a great cyclist has left. RIP, Michele Scarponi.”
Joaquím Rodríguez, who has recently retired from professional cycle racing but has been up against Scarponi, 37, numerous times, tweeted: “Of all the people who pass through your life and leave a mark on it, of all those people you'll never forget, RIP Scarpa.”
José Joaquín Rojas tweeted: “I can't believe it! One of the best people I've ever known in this sport! Impossible! RIP Michele Scarponi.”
And Javier Minguez tagged the sports newspaper, Gazzetta, in his tweet, writing: “Rest in peace, good old Michele, and my most sincere condolences to his family. Dreadful news.”
Pedro Delgado said the news had 'impacted him' greatly, hearing how Michele had 'left us', and wished his family and fans 'sincere condolences'.
Colombian cyclists Sergio Henao Montoya and Jarlinson Pantano have written dedications on Twitter to Scarponi, with the former saying that 'only God has the moment and the tmie of each of us' in His hands, and wishes 'lots of strength' to Scarponi's wife and children, whilst the latter said of the Italian, “you'll be a legend forever,” and, “how sad to start the day with this news.”
Organisers of Spain's answer to the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, wrote that 'all the Vuelta family' was 'very distressed by the tragic death' of Michele Scarponi.
Spanish cycling team Movístar said that it was 'upset by the tragic passing' of the popular Italian, who, it said, had 'a natural sympathy with cycling'.
Italy 'devastated'
The Italian cycling world is said to be absolutely devastated, with Vincenzo Nibali saying, “I don't know, I can't deal with this! I have no words, my friend,” and Fabio Aru calling the death of his friend 'an infinite tragedy' for which there were 'no words', whilst current Italian men's team cycling manager Davide Cassani remembered how the day before, whilst race-training, Michele had been alongside him and 'smiling, as always; happy with his victory, talking about the Giro', and 'now I'm here to cry for you'.
Chairman of the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI), Giovanni Malagó, announced a minute's silence in all nationwide competitions all this weekend in Scarponi's honour.
Other Italian cyclists including Daniele Bennati (Movístar) and Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Merida) said, respectively: “Scarpaaaa! I'll miss you, my friend, I love you, and right now I only want to cry,” and, “Ciao, legend – you'll now be on the longest race there is, and I'll miss you. There are no words to describe the pain.”
