[Last_Place_Pete]

Everyone cross your fingers/start praying/whatever it is you might like to do for Wouter Weylandt of Leopard Trek.

[Xela]

Originally Posted by Last_Place_Pete

Everyone cross your fingers/start praying/whatever it is you might like to do for Wouter Weylandt of Leopard Trek.

Thanks for posting. Definitely +1.

[Xela]

Cyclingnews.com just confirmed that Wouter has died following his crash. Devastating news.

[Last_Place_Pete]

Confirmed on EuroSport and SkyNews as well.

Wouter- Ride on, brother.

[Hazy]

Wow. I've just now started to look at the elite racers of this sport as I have just started really riding myself. I happened upon this story on ESPN and the reality of how dangerous this sport can be hit me a little bit.

Prayers go out for his friends and family as they cope with the loss of a family member and friend.

[photosbymark]

Anyone know what happened in the crash? Was it a pack incident? Something break? Any way to know?

Racing anything has risks. For those that race, what it adds to life has to off set the possibility that it could also end life. Some time ago in F1 there were two fatal accidents and one extremely serious accident that involved a major closed head injury. This wasn't in a season. It was in a weekend.

On this sad sad day, let us learn from what happened to make future racers safer. Let us remember that they are men, not just racers. Let us pray in our own way for the family and friends, and let us do what we can if the opportunity arises to support those who miss him most.

[Xela]

Originally Posted by photosbymark

Anyone know what happened in the crash? Was it a pack incident? Something break? Any way to know?

Racing anything has risks. For those that race, what it adds to life has to off set the possibility that it could also end life. Some time ago in F1 there were two fatal accidents and one extremely serious accident that involved a major closed head injury. This wasn't in a season. It was in a weekend.

On this sad sad day, let us learn from what happened to make future racers safer. Let us remember that they are men, not just racers. Let us pray in our own way for the family and friends, and let us do what we can if the opportunity arises to support those who miss him most.

Details are still sketchy. I think this is for two main reasons. 1) It wasn't witnessed by a lot of riders both because of where in the field he was and the nature of the descent having lots of curves. 2) As you most likely know, Mark, the Italians take things like this very seriously as made quite infamous by the lengthy criminal investigation into Frank Williams, Patrick Head, Adrian Newey and others following the death of Senna at Imola which you referenced. It seems like most riders that did witness anything were being questioned as part of the beginning of an official investigation and not sharing a lot with the media.

What I have read so far from a few places indicates that he turned back to look to see if he should fall back into a group behind him while on the descent. He clipped his pedal on a wall or guard-rail which caused his bike to veer and he was thrown over the bars. PM discussions with Last_Place_Pete yesterday indicated to me that he would more understand the injury mechanism in this case than I do, so perhaps he can comment more.

Whatever the case, it is a sad loss. Today's stage has been neutralized, meaning the riders will ride at a slow pace in a pack with no racing today and no official results for the stage. American Tyler Farrar was best friends with Wouter and even chose to live in his hometown during the cycling season to be able to train with him. He is taking the loss very hard and is withdrawing from the Giro after today's memorial stage. This was released by his Garmin-Cervelo team and is a nice tribute to Wouter:

Yesterday evening, Farrar released the following statement, via the Garmin-Cervélo team:

“I am unbearably saddened by the loss of Wouter today. As many know, he was my friend, training partner, and in many ways, another brother to me. His death marks an irreparable change in my life but more importantly, in the lives of his family and most loved.

“Wouter was one of the kindest, funniest, and most admirable people I have ever had the opportunity to know and his death is a tragedy to his family, his friends, and to the sport as a whole. I can only convey my deepest of sympathies to everyone who cared about him as deeply as I did, especially his family, his friends, his team and his fans – we celebrate his life and morn his death in equal measure.

“Wouter was and is the soul of this sport we all love – an athlete who sacrificed himself for the better of many and a champion who celebrated each glory as a victory for his family, his team, and his friends and fans.

“I will remember him always, and will always strive to do him proud, as he has always done for the sport and people he loves.”

According to several media sources this morning, including Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsbald, Farrar will ride today’s stage, which is neutralised in memory of Weylandt, before leaving the race.

“Afterwards, Tyler will travel back to Belgium with a masseur from the team, who will assist him in this difficult time,” a Garmin-Cervélo statement reads.
---From velonation.com

[photosbymark]

Xela thanks for the reply. Yes I know about the Senna investigation, and frankly I will always believe that it was started because it was Senna. I also will always believe that it would have never happened if Senna had been killed in a Ferrari.

Now from what you tell me this type of accident was the type of accident that is just a part of the inherent risk of racing. Sounds like most accidents that many things had to have happened just as they did to add up to the sad outcome. Had he been going up hill when he clipped a pedal on the rail or wall, things might have been different. Looking back to check his surroundings was likely something he had done thousands of times without incident, even at speed. Still I wonder how many racers in the world that are top flight riders have NEVER crashed a bike during a race? My guess is zero, but this time the stars lined up for a tragic outcome.

Yet let's take this sad day and use it to dedicate ourselves to ride as safely as possible and to help others to do so as well. I can think of no greater tribute to a fallen cyclist.

[Xela]

Leopard Trek has just come the front and fanned across the road for the final 3 km procession. They brought Farrar up with them. Live feed shows Farrar crying. Very moving.

[photosbymark]

And a very fitting tribute.