Spanish cyclist Iván Meléndez, only 17, from the Tenerife Cabberty team, died on Saturday (24) during the second stage of the return to Ribeira do Douro Júnior, after an accident that also left several hospitalized participants. The accident occurred at kilometer 66 of the 118 -kilometer stage of this junior competition, between Langa de Duero and Laguna Negra, in Castile and Leão, Spain.
“UCI deeply regrets the tragic death of Spanish cyclist Iván Meléndez, who succumbed to the injuries suffered in an accident during the return to Ribeira do Douro,” said the International Cyclist Union (UCI) on social networks.
The Spanish broadcaster said that as a result of a serious mass accident, up to 18 cyclists were hospitalized, two of them in serious condition. Santa Barbara Hospital in Soria announced his death hours later.
The race, which should make its third and last stage this Sunday, was canceled. Instead, the organizers and the other cyclists paid tribute to the deceased at 8:30 am GMT in the city of Aranda de Duero, where the race was scheduled to finish. The race, which started on Friday, featured 174 cyclists.
Cycling accidents are becoming more frequent and violent, with death this summer (winter in the southern hemisphere) of another young man, the 19 -year -old Italian Samuele, while competing at Giro della Valle d’A ousta in Italy.
In 2024, 25 -year -old Norwegian André Drede died during a Downhill race on the 18 -year -old Switzerland Muriel Fast died after a fall in the junior road at the World Championship in Zurich.
