Italian junior bike owner Samuele Privitera has died aged 19 after a fall throughout the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta in north west Italy.

The Italian Biking Federation (FCI) stated circumstances across the incident had been “nonetheless unclear” however Privitera “apparently hit a velocity bump and misplaced management of his bike” and hit his head on a downhill stretch of highway 32km from the end line.

Privitera was resuscitated and brought to the hospital in Aosta, close to the French and Swiss border, the place he later died.

Axel Merckx, common supervisor and proprietor of Privitera’s staff Hagens Berman Jayco, stated the rider “all the time would be the life and persona of this staff”.

Merckx added: “Moments like this are unimaginable.

“To lose him is devastating past phrases. Personally, I’m struggling to specific the unhappiness I really feel however I’m deeply grateful for each second we shared with him and for the enjoyment he dropped at our staff each single day.

“He cherished the bike, he cherished the digital camera, he cherished to smile, he cherished to snicker, however most of all he cherished his household and his team-mates.”

The Giro della Valle d’Aosta is a males’s under-23 held within the Aosta Valley.

Thursday’s second stage in Passy was cancelled and the race will resume on Friday with the third stage preceded by a second of remembrance. The preliminary part of the stage will likely be neutralised in reminiscence of Privitera.

FCI president Cordiano Dagnoni added: “This information leaves us shocked and forces us to suppose much more decisively about learn how to make our races safer.”