PRESS RELEASE ON MICHELE SCARPONI
Michele died in the morning while he was training.
This is a tragedy too big to be written.
Our athlete Michele Scarponi died this morning while he was training on his bike close to his home in Filottrano. Michele has been hitted by a van on a crossroad.
Born in September 25th 1979, he left a wife and two kids.
Michele ended 4th in the Tour of Alps yesterday afternoon in Trento. Then he went home in Filottrano (Ancona) by car with his masseur and was home in the evening to his family.
This morning Michele went out on his bike for an early morning training and there the tragedy happened.
We left a great champion and a special guy, always smiling in every situation, he was a real mile stone and a landmark for everyone in the Astana Pro Team.
The Astana Pro Team clings to the Michele family in this incredibly painful moment of sorrow and mourning.
ALEXANDR VINOKUROV ABOUT THIS TRADEGY
We are in deep shock, it is a huge sorrow for all of us, for family, friends and colleagues of Michele. Michele Scarponi was a great champion. This is a huge loss, no words to express my pain. On behalf of the entire Astana Team my condolences go out to the family and friends of Michele Scarponi...
TOUR OF CROATIA. STAGE 5. ASTANA TEAM RIDES FOR MICHELE SCARPONI
In this sad for all cycling day, Astana Proteam came out to the start of the fifth stage of the Tour of Croatia in memory of Michele Scarponi, who died today morning in training.
At the start line in Porec, the whole peloton honored the memory of Michele Scarponi with a minute of silence. As a sign of sorrow, Astana riders worn the black ribbons.
- A tough day for all of us. Early morning we’ve got a terrible news about tragic death of one of our best riders Michele Scarponi, not just a leader, but also a true soul of the team, a big person. This is a huge loss for us, enormous stress. Once again on behalf of Astana Team I express our deep condolences to the family and friends, to his wife and children, remained without their father… A heavy blow for all of us. In such day it’s very difficult to stay concentrated and to think about the race. But, we are sure, the best thing the team could do in this day is to start, to fight strongly and to try to win in his honor, - said team sports manager Dmitriy Fofonov.
The 5th stage of the Tour of Croatia started in Porec and finished atop the HC category climb in Ucka. The distance of the stage was of 141 km. Astana Proteam did a strong race, supporting its leader Jesper Hansen. At the final climb, it was Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev, who provided a huge help to Hansen, leaving him with only 2 km to the top and launching in the end a solo attack.
Finally, Hansen did a good climb and finished 7th, only 20 seconds behind the stage winner, Spanish rider Jaime Roson.
- Jesper showed well himself today, he finished 7th. Also, Bakhtiyar did a strong race, he always was close to Hansen, while in the end he attacked just to force the rivals to work more. The result, shown by Jesper says he is coming into the shape, he is ready for the Giro. I believe, he will show himself in Italy and will fight for a nice stage, - added Dmitriy Fofonov.
As result of today’s stage Jesper Hansen moved up to 8th position in the general classification of the race, +1.20 behind new race leader Roson.
Tomorrow will be held the final stage of the Tour of Croatia: 146 km from Samobor to Zagreb.
Photo credit: © Bettiniphoto
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