Wouter Weylandt Dead: Crash Kills Cyclist (VIDEO)

RAPALLO, Italy — Belgian cyclist Wouter Weylandt died Monday after a high-speed downhill crash at the Giro d'Italia, the first rider to be killed in a major cycling race in 16 years.

Maria Paola Vercesi, a spokeswoman for race organizer RCS Sport, confirmed the death of the 26-year-old Weylandt to The Associated Press, but did not provide any further details.

"Things like this shouldn't happen. Absolutely sick to the stomach," British cyclist Mark Cavendish said on Twitter. "My thoughts are with his family. RIP Wouter Weylandt."

Weylandt fell at high speed during a descent 12.4 miles from the finish in northern Italy and lay motionless on the roadside before paramedics removed his helmet and tried to resuscitate him.

The Leopard-Trek rider's body was then taken by ambulance about an hour after the accident.

Weylandt was the first rider killed in a crash in one of cycling's three main tours since Italian rider Fabio Casartelli died during the 1995 Tour de France.

At the Giro, Weylandt is the fourth cyclist to die during the race and the first in 25 years. Orfeo Ponsin died in 1952, Juan Manuel Santisteban in 1976 and Emilio Ravasio in 1986.

Monday's third stage, 107-mile ride from Reggio Emilia to Rapallo, was won by Angel Vicioso of Spain.

Scroll down to watch a report about the death:

Comments

[madjanssen]

06:15 AM on 05/15/2011

The worst thing about Wouter's death was the child he was going to have later this year. I feel bad for him/her for losing his/her father even before he/she got to know him. At least just a bit.

[nmaddog7]

09:09 PM on 05/14/2011

Major bummer, but as a badly injured snowboarder(spinal cord injury) who recently had a colleague die in an accident, I have to say it is questionable whether it was good luck to survive my injury- not only am I in pain,I can't work, and have become a major financial burden on my family- and their health as I have trouble sleeping etc. Plus my quality of life is literally a living he'll. Suicide is terrible, I would have rather gone out doing what I love.
Only in the West do we have this idea life should be saved no matter what- the Japanese are correct- a pure death is a great blessing- despite the tragedy- Wouter died purely doing what he loved,just as my friend did, while I sit here in a recliner all day depressing and sucking the energy from my healthy family members

[madjanssen]

06:14 AM on 05/15/2011

I am sorry for what happened to you. I have never been through what you have and have never known anyone who has but recently I met up with my German cousin who served time in the military. He was frustrated at the lack of action he encounters in his missions abroad which are all peace keeping and he feels useless at not being able to do more in his capacity. His father was pretty vocal about his son's chosen profession but I told him, 90% of us are stuck doing what we have to do to pay the bills. There are so few of us who are lucky enough to be able to do what we love and make a living out of it. If he had to die doing what he loved, at least he was happy and at the end of the day that's what counts. I may not really fully truly understand what you are going through but I know when I die, I want to at least be happy with the life I have had but I can't imagine that happening because I haven't had the opportunity to do the things I love, at least not for a living. Take care.

[nmaddog7]

08:09 AM on 05/15/2011

True, thanks for posting. It is always a risk to pursue one true love, if it goes bad some people always want to blame the seeker b/c it justifies what they feel insecure about in their life- the lack of taking that leap into the unknown .
Also, in this day and age, if you happen to even like your job 60% of the time you are truly blessed. It is because of all the crazy competition and specialization going on- if you aren't a natural at your passion(which isn't chosen by the way,more spirtiual than that)- well maybe you should chose something you are better at right away or at least will pay a lot for sure (wall street). This is a sad but true situation we are in that leads thousands & thousands down the path to depressing jobs and a feeling of bienf soulless- this is why we see so many shrinks in these days.
So how can others judge your German cousin?

[jcs63]

10:30 PM on 05/17/2011

nmaddog7 sorry to hear about your accident. I can't pretend to know what you are going through but if it means anything this stranger is saying a prayer for you. I don't know how severe your injury is however, there is always hope and I believe there is always a way to reinvent oneself in trying circumstances. I hope that the physical and emotional pain you are going through will subside and become an inspiration to others some day. You have so many things to offer others through this expierence; yes it totally sucks but you can do it and have alot to offer. Hang in there and know that this stranger is on your side. With kind regards, JCS 63

[spinotter11]

11:53 AM on 05/12/2011

Such a promising young man. My condolences to all who have lost him.

[Greatest Darthfruit]

01:07 AM on 05/12/2011

sad

[ttyy]

08:42 PM on 05/11/2011

Nobody should be going 50mph on a bike. These races are ridiculously dangerous. I know there's money to be made, but it's really gone too far. Terribly sad. Get ALL the cars, people, cameras and crap off the path so the bikes and the bikes ALONE can navigate the paths...especially the downhills---those should be exclusive to the cyclists.

[moderndaywarrior]

06:23 PM on 05/11/2011

Hey, Huffpost, can you give more information than "Weylandt crashed and died?"

Like how does a professional cyclist fall off his bike at high speed. Tell us what happened instead of just stating the end result.

[spinotter11]

11:56 AM on 05/12/2011

Look in the Wikipedia article about Wouter Weylandt. I wondered the same thing, but it appears that he looked over his shoulder and then lost control over his bike, hitting against a retaining wall with such force that his foot would have had to be amputated had he survived. He then was thrown some ten meters to the other side of the road and died practically instantly.

[bynddrvn5]

09:46 AM on 05/11/2011

Terrible! Very sad and tragic event.

There are some pictures of the area where Wounter was killed, not sure anything could be done to make this area safer. I hope the tour organizers review their safety procedures to see if there are some changes they can make to improve the overall safety of the race.

[rdclark]

10:51 PM on 05/10/2011

There is no statistical support for your assertion. Riding in cars is a lot more dangerous than cycling, for example.

[spinotter11]

11:58 AM on 05/12/2011

Obviously the Giro d'Italia is not an ordinary bicycle ride. Those precipitous descents have always scared me just to watch. But I agree with you that cycling is safer in general.

[mobeach]

03:54 PM on 05/10/2011

Sorry to here about somebody getting killed riding a bicycle,it just doesnt seem possible.Hope he's riding to a better place.RIP

[Crawleykakes]

12:33 AM on 05/11/2011

Doesn't seem possible ? really that is what you think !

[lhanderson86]

01:34 PM on 05/11/2011

Professional cyclists on a descent can reach 50mph. Try crashing at 50mph in your car and see what the damage is. Now do it on a bicycle.

[Checkpoint Charlie]

12:40 PM on 05/10/2011

I don't know what to say, my heart goes out to everyone...part of me wants to see the footage as to avoid the same thing every happening to me in the mountains...but I hear it is heartbreakingly grusome and graphic.

[Fi]

12:33 PM on 05/10/2011

I've just watched the moving tribute to Wouter, it was so sad.

[Jingo]

12:02 PM on 05/10/2011

He should have taken a page from George W's cycling book. If you're going to crash, be sure to use a bystander to soften your fall.

[Meggie]

11:07 AM on 05/10/2011

shaping up to be  a horrible year for young pro cyclists - Carla Swart lost her life in a training accident this year, too.

[natashastar]

10:40 AM on 05/10/2011

reminds me of the movie BREAKING AWAY.. Ciao Wouter.. May your ride continue wherever you are..

[yavuz]

09:12 AM on 05/10/2011

cycling is inherently dangerous. great way to get around, but you always feel the danger

[spinotter11]

12:00 PM on 05/12/2011

Competitive cycling, I agree. If we had decent bicycle paths in the US, it would be much safer than driving or riding in an automobile.