FanPost

Remembering Fabio Casartelli

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Tomorrow, the Tour will climb and descend Col de Portet d'Aspet the site of Fabio Casartelli's tragic death during the 1995 Tour de France.

Casartelli was a talented rider on the Motorola team and had won the 1992 Olympic road race gold medal at the tender age of 21. 

After his death, the Motorola team remained in the Tour crossing the line the next stage side by side with the Peloton behind.  Three days later a young American team-mate went on to win an emotional stage victory.  Lance Armstrong pointed to the sky as he crossed the line, dedicating the victory to Casartelli.

The memorial is a sundial arranged so that shadows highlight 3 dates:  His birth, his death, and his Olympic Gold Medal.

The descent of Portet d'Aspet is incredibly steep.  There are two 17% signs above the crash site.  The little road is shaded by trees.  Several riders crashed at a sharp left turn nearing the bottom of the descent and Casartelli hit the top of his un-helmeted head on the small concrete wall there.

Help arrived instantly but nothing could be done. 

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