GIRO Stage 3 **SPOILER** Reggio Emilia → Rapallo, 173 km

Tusher

NapoleonD wrote:

Tried to leave a condolence message on his website but it's crashed.

Sh1t feel odd. I've seen my fair share of messy crashes and death in real life and have always coped but I feel weird. Gutted for his expectant wife. Absolutely gutted

I'm feeling exactly the same, Nap. I think it's because when you're there, especially in a uniform, you have to keep working, you can't afford not to.

luckao

Rest in peace Wouter.

Buckled_Rims

Shocked and saddened. Terrible news for his family who was probably watching.

RIP Wouter.

frenchfighter

Getty

AP

Reuters

Agent57

sportbilly1976 wrote:

A bit shocking that his wikipedia entry has already been updated...

Someone had actually updated it saying he'd died more than an hour ago, long before we got the official confirmation. I don't know if that was an insider, or someone just pre-empting the announcement, but the change was reverted a while later.

rozzer32

Shocking news, thoughts go to his friends and family. What a sad day for cycling.

brucey72

Terribly, terribly sad news, you sometimes forget what a dangerous sport this actaully is when the professionals are gracefully descending down the mountains. My thoughts are with his family and friends. RIP.

moray_gub

RIP Wouter Weylandt a sad sad day

Just brings it home how much risk these guys take day in day out.

sportbilly1976

The Leopard Trek website also down currently - saying for maintenance but I'm guessign to put a fitting tribute page up...

on a seperate topic - what is the climb on their homepage?

http://www.leopardtrek.lu/

Pross

Tragic news, I turned on just after the finish and saw footage of the air ambulance so guessed something was up but hadn't realised it was so serious. Always a shock and provides a reminder of how dangerous the sport is but fortunately accidents of this severity are few and far between. Rest in peace Wouter.

smithy21

Dont know what to add to what has already been said.

I feel totally shocked and bit sick if I am being honest.

I havent seen any footage and only a still image when I googled to check it was true.

Thoughts to his family.

Skyplussed the stage but no way am I watching it now.

Gazzaputt

RIP really shocking news.

Another who'll delete the recording as soon as I get home.

iainf72

RIP Wouter.

There really isn't anything you can say. So tragic.

peterst6906

Very sad day for the whole community - riders, family, fans, everyone.

Shows what's really important in the sport; and the sentiment and well wishes from everyone here demonstrate what a big community it really is, no matter what level you ride at.

RIP Wouter.

Omar Little

RIP sad news

pomtarr

Tribute up on http://www.leopardtrek.lu/

TODAY, OUR TEAM MATE AND FRIEND
WOUTER WEYLANDT PASSED AWAY AFTER
A CRASH ON THE 3RD STAGE OF THE
GIRO D'ITALIA.

THE TEAM IS LEFT IN A STATE OF SHOCK
AND SADNESS AND WE SEND ALL OUR
THOUGHTS AND CONDOLENCES TO
THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF WOUTER

THIS IS A DIFFICULT DAY FOR CYCLING AND
OUR TEAM, AND WE SHOULD ALL SEEK
SUPPORT AND STRENGTH IN THE PEOPLE
CLOSE TO US.

on behalf of the entire
LEOPARD TREK TEAM

kfinlay

peterst6906 wrote:

Very sad day for the whole community - riders, family, fans, everyone.

Shows what's really important in the sport; and the sentiment and well wishes from everyone here demonstrate what a big community it really is, no matter what level you ride at.

RIP Wouter.

My thoughts too, couldn;t have said it better

RIP Wouter.

FransJacques

People mention Casartelli as the last, and while that too was terrible as all death is, he left a wife and young son, don't forget poor Kivilev.

Kivilev's legacy was stronger in a way than Casartelli's in so far as the Belgian helmet racing law was adopted by the UCI for all countries. Remember at first it was ok to pitch your helmet to a waiting soigneur if the stage finished up a climb, but that was scrapped and they have to keep them on now.

If WW's demise prevents race organizers sending riders down descents like this one without barriers and with a poor surface, maybe that will be a fitting tribute. Surely the insurance company and the Giro's lawyers will look at the features of this road and make suggestions.

To me, the Kemmelberg et al are a different kettle of fish as they've been used for decades and there's lot of lore in the peloton about how to survive them. How many over the riders in today's Giro had been over this pass before?

KillerMetre

"Race officials later said his left pedal got stuck in a wall at the side of the road, forcing Weylandt to tumble around 20 meters to the ground below."

kentdowner

Terrible, terrible news- could feel the tears well up when I heard the news, the fall looked horrific but you always hope for a miracle.

RIP Wouter

deejay

RIP - Wouter Weylandt and since Fabio Casartelli's name has been mentioned and the sadness we are repeating again today.
Then after Fabio's death there was a Neutral Stage the next day (that a texan cashed in on) so there might not be a race on Stage 4.

What a hell of a Loss.


Edit.
The well travelled road down the Kemelberg has been diverted for 3/4 years as too dangerous

gsk82

KillerMetre wrote:

"Race officials later said his left pedal got stuck in a wall at the side of the road, forcing Weylandt to tumble around 20 meters to the ground below."

i don't understand how that could be?

i watched the eurosport coverage and the pictures were absolutely shocking, i've genuinely never seen anything like it. i've felt a bit sick since i saw. poor guy

KillerMetre

gsk82 wrote:

KillerMetre wrote:

"Race officials later said his left pedal got stuck in a wall at the side of the road, forcing Weylandt to tumble around 20 meters to the ground below."

i don't understand how that could be?

i watched the eurosport coverage and the pictures were absolutely shocking, i've genuinely never seen anything like it. i've felt a bit sick since i saw. poor guy

As the camera panned out after they filmed poor Wouter on the deck you could see the barriers of a road directly above where he was lying.This might explain who he ended up with quite such catastrophic injuries.

frenchfighter

gsk82

KillerMetre wrote:

gsk82 wrote:

KillerMetre wrote:

"Race officials later said his left pedal got stuck in a wall at the side of the road, forcing Weylandt to tumble around 20 meters to the ground below."

i don't understand how that could be?

i watched the eurosport coverage and the pictures were absolutely shocking, i've genuinely never seen anything like it. i've felt a bit sick since i saw. poor guy

As the camera panned out after they filmed poor Wouter on the deck you could see the barriers of a road directly above where he was lying.This might explain who he ended up with quite such catastrophic injuries.

the team cars were passing in the pictures though, i'd have thought that if that is what happenedall of the riders will've then passed him which i haven't heard from any source.

frenchfighter

Things like this shouldn't happen. Absolutely sick to the stomach. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Wouter Weylandt.
-Cav
Our prayers and thoughts are all for Wouter Weylandt / Le nostre preghiere e il nostro pensiero sono tutti per Wouter Weylandt
-Giro
Just back from a run and got the news of Wouter Weylandt's death today in the Giro. I'm shocked and saddened. May he rest in peace.
-Lance
All thoughts in cycling world are going towards weylands. Tragic accident
-N Roche
Rest in peace Wouter! I can't believe it's really happened!
-Quniziato
-Say it ain't so... Wouter, you were kind and gracious to me every day at Tour of Oman. You will be very dearly missed.
-T Phinney
-Rest in peace, Wouter. And to his family, friends and teammates, I am deeply sorry for your loss. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
-CVV
Our thoughts are prayers are with Wouter. US TV just now reporting the severity of the crash. Wouter is Tyler's best friend.
-Vaughters
Black day....i feel really sad what happen with wouter weylandt. My condoloence to his wife and family. His wife is even pregnant..
-Fabian
Ci mancherai Wouter! Riposa in Pace.
-Bennati
RIP Wouter Weylandt!! going to miss you.. . Rest in Peace my roomy
-Mortensen
no words... RIP wouter
-Wagner
We lost a great team mate and a true friend on the roads to Rapallo. Rest in peace Wouter. All our thoughts go out to the family and friends of Wouter. The team in Italy will decide on our further race participation tonight.
-Nygaard
i'ts incredibile how much destiny could be tragic.my condolences and a hug to family and friends. rest in peace, Wouter
-Basso
I can't find any words to complain my feeling about Wouter death.it's surreal. all my thought for his wife, family and friends. Ciao Wouter
-Nibali
On behalf of the entire team our hearts go out to Wouter’s family, friends and the colleagues of Team Leopard, in this sad, sad time.
-QS
Speechless. Alone in train towards Amsterdam. Fly to California tomorrow. Cannot stop thinking about Wouter. Strange feeling to kiss my wife goodby. All thought go to his wife, family and friends. Stay strong
-TenDam
Very sad to see the news of Wouter Weylandt this morning, don't know what to say? Can't imagine what his friends & family are going through
-Levi
Devastated. Wouter Weylandt
-McEwen
Moments like these are so fucked!! Thought and prayers to his family! Makes u realize how we risk our lives some times a bit to much! In light of what happened today everybody who rides a bike needs to be apart of something like www.helivac.co.za it could just save ur life!
-Hunter
Sad to hear about Wouter Weylandt - RIP.
-Horner
Such a sad day for our sport. RIP Wouter Weylandt. Thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. I'm shocked.
-Bruyneel
Days like this put this great sport we love into perspective, Wouter rest in peace now mate, thoughts are now with the family and freinds!
-Wiggins
Horrible news about Wouter!! Thoughts with his family, friends and team mates!! RIP mate
-Geraint
after seeing that i feel sick inside...Rip wouter .. u will be sadly missed . lost for words
-Downing
Such a sad sad day. RIP Woulter. Thoughts are with family. Speechless.
-Henderson
Rip Wouter, thoughts go out to everyone affected by today's tragedy
-Dowsett
We fight over silly things in our sport. What happened to Wouter Weylandt puts things back into perspective- RIP notre frere
-Sherwen
Sean and I will raise a Leffe to one of the most charismatic sprinters of his generation. He will be missed on the Schelderun. RIP. Our deepest sympathies to his family, loved ones and team from everyone here at Eurosport.
-Spokesmen

Good comments from Millar:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/millar- ... o-weylandt

Tributes:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tribute ... r-weylandt


http://twibbon.com/join/Wouter-Weylandt-2

camerone

deejay wrote:

RIP - Wouter Weylandt and since Fabio Casartelli's name has been mentioned and the sadness we are repeating again today.
Then after Fabio's death there was a Neutral Stage the next day (that a texan cashed in on) so there might not be a race on Stage 4.

What a hell of a Loss.


Edit.
The well travelled road down the Kemelberg has been diverted for 3/4 years as too dangerous

Armstrong won a genuine stage later in the tour

Desperately sad day today, RIP Wouter

cornoyemade

Tragic. By all accounts, he was a gentleman and a true professional. My thoughts and prayers to his friends and family. He will surely be missed by all who knew him, and saw him race.

blazing_saddles

Yes, I think David Millar probably expresses today's events best, from a rider's perspective:

“I love cycling, and I've always been enchanted by the epic scale of it all, it was why I fell in love with it as a boy. Yet Wouter's death today goes beyond anything that our sport is supposed to be about, it is a tragedy that we as sportsmen never expect, yet we live with it daily, completely oblivious to the dangers we put ourselves in. This is a sad reminder to us, the racers, what risks we take and what lives we lead.

“Wouter was a sprinter, this means he was one of the most skilful bike handlers in the peloton, for this to have happened to him shows that we are all at risk every single kilometer we race.”

Cumulonimbus

I may get blasted for asking this but will Millar now have worn the leader's jersey in every GT? Apologies if this seems an insensitive thing to ask given the circumstances but i have been following this since it happened, which was hours ago.