Giro Stage 3: Wouter Weylandt Dies in Tragic Crash
by Sui Juris on May 9, 2011 11:19 AM EDT
in Giro d'Italia
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[Chris here, a few words...]
Leopard-Trek's Wouter Weylandt died in today's third stage of the Giro d'Italia in a crash on a hairpin turn descending the Passo del Bocco. The crash was not captured on film and its causes aren't clear (reports are he clipped a pedal on the road or the wall), but Weylandt's head struck a retaining wall on the hairpin bend and he reportedly died of a fractured skull. Efforts to revive him were complicated by the location's inaccessibility to helicopters, though descriptions of the crash and injuries suggest that there was never much hope of surviving. A native of Gent, Belgium, Weylandt was 26 years old and is survived by his wife who is expecting the couple's first child in September.
Obviously, Weylandt's loss is first a tragedy to his family and friends. It would be impossible for me to find adequate words to capture this. I think I speak for many of us in saying they will be in our thoughts.
Today's stage was won in a five-rider sprint by Angel Vicioso of the Androni Giocattoli team over David Millar of Garmin-Cervelo, who inherits the overall lead by seven seconds. The stage was contested to the finish, it appears, as information concerning Weylandt's condition was not available and his death was not publicly confirmed until his family could be contacted, which happened after the stage. Reports are that tomorrow's stage will be neutralized in honor of Weylandt. His Leopard-Trek teammates will not likely continue in the race, though for now no announcement has been made.
This is a horrible loss even to a sport accustomed to tragedy. Unlike a lot of other team sports, the nature of cycling where riders of all teams work and travel in close quarters (to say the least) means that everyone knows everyone else, and close friendships across team lines are the norm. [Tyler Farrar called Weylandt his best friend recently.] Weylandt's death will impact the sport in ways less familiar in other sporting contexts. This dynamic is set against a backdrop of what R Mc commented below as "riding the wall of death every day" -- a poignant description of the terrible risks that are "accepted" as part of the sport. I say "accepted" because this incident will no doubt touch off debate about what constitutes safe conditions, a legitimate concern even before today. However, while riders will cite some courses for unsafe conditions, tragic and near-tragic crashes occur on courses that don't appear abnormally dangerous. Some amount of grave risk accompanies cycling wherever it goes. We all know that, even if you've never watched a single race.
Today, though, the sport has veered across the line of what anyone -- riders, teams, organizers and fans -- is prepared to accept as "that's cycling." People who shake off the horror and brutality of the sport when it seems so hard to do will undoubtedly be struck differently by this. It is hard to predict what this will mean for the Giro going forward, and the loss of a bright young sprinter -- husband, father-to-be, family member, friend -- will forever stain the race and the cycling season with tears. [/Chris]
***
Rest in peace, Wouter Weylandt.
The Leopard-Trek Team has issued a brief statement:
Today, our team mate and friend Wouter Weylandt passed away after a crash on the 3rd stage of the Giro d’Italia.
The team is left in a state of shock and sadness and we send all our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Wouter.
This is a difficult day for cycling and for our team, and we should all seek support and strength in the people close to us.
Brian Nygaard
General Manager
Photo courtesy of Patrick Verhoest
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no new info coming from RAI
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
waiting at the leopard trek team bus
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
Terrible, terrible news.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
Oh God, this is terrible.
Prayers to his family.
"In road cycling tires 25mm is the new 22mm"
-Chris Fontecchio, PdC April 2011-
seriously. Man
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
RAI - Doctor Tredici (race doctor)
We arrived on site immediatly. The situation was already very serious. We tried a cardio immediatly but unfortunately after 40 minutes we had to give up. We informed the helicopter we didn’t need it anymore
Thank you for continuing to update us.
"How strange it was to see men doing something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant." Tim Winton, 'Breath'
I hate to have sounded critical of the response. The images made it look impossible to me.
Very, very sad news. I’m kinda broken up about this…
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
by JustJoshinYa on May 9, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Possibly Weylandt suffered very little.
it’s a brutal sport
and these riders ride the wall of death every day.
It’s just that most days they stay on this side.
Rest Mr. Weylandt, and consolations to his family, team-mates, and fellow pros.
yes
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
Wow, what a sad moment
I hope that his family is together, and the all have the support they need today and into the future.
Just spinning the pedals in the hills of Western Maryland
Absolutely horrible
Sminer: I blame KARMA for everything.
Jens: I've heard it's a bitch
Water Girl: I heard it ran over your dogma
When was the last fatal accident in the pro peloton?
"Oh man, it’s going to take days to kill all these people!"
kivilev in 2003(?) paris-nice?
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
The last one that i can remember in the highest level like this would be Kivliev?
But there has been other deaths in the meantime.
been a few - but Kiviliev is the standout to me
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
by JustJoshinYa on May 9, 2011 11:38 AM EDT up reply actions
He died as a Hero. Died doing thing he likes to do!
Sad, sad moment for our sport! My sincere condolences to the family and teammates!
"I love bike races warm up, warm down, cobbles mountains or flats."
perezbike
.
sad indeed
my condolences to all his friends and family.
look, if it's hurting me, the other one is going to be about to die now - Jens!
Terrible news
My thoughts go out to his family.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
-Orwell, Politics and the English Language
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by tehGrindCrusher on May 9, 2011 11:43 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Just tuning in
terrible news.
was it a case of flipping over a low outer wall on a descent?
context seems to say he was inaccessible ?
Sweet kid, saw him race here for Omega Lotto(?)
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the Flag and carrying the Cross."
--Sinclair Lewis
I think he hit a wall head on - it was the inside wall, not the cliff side, if that makes sense.
Reports suggested he glanced behind for a second and might have clipped a pedal. I think it was Popo who said that he saw that.
Not sure how fast they were going, but would guess 50mph…maybe others know.
Tragic. RAI showed him on the road after the crash, not the incident itself (and youtube clip is up but I am hoping they take it down). Not for the squeamish.
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
by JustJoshinYa on May 9, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
good
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
by JustJoshinYa on May 9, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
His biggest win was the third stage of the 2010 Giro
Sadly he died on the third stage of the 2011 edition.
look, if it's hurting me, the other one is going to be about to die now - Jens!
What grim symmetry.
Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print.
Never use a long word where a short one will do.
If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
Never use the passive where you can use the active.
Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarous.
-Orwell, Politics and the English Language
www.battleredblog.com
by tehGrindCrusher on May 9, 2011 12:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
three years running the third stage has produced crashes
2009: CVV and the broken Vertebrae
2010: That crash-fest, CVV going down the hardest
2011: RIP Wouter Weylant
Sminer: I blame KARMA for everything.
Jens: I've heard it's a bitch
Water Girl: I heard it ran over your dogma
Wishing peace for his wife and family.
On a personal note, so helpful to have this community during the race (even though I was commenting little). It was such a weird disconnect to have the US announcers calling the race as usual (I’m not blaming them, it was just so bizarre for me).
me too.
Time for a walk. Not sure what else to do.
Reigning Champion: 2010 Tour de France Stage Predictor Game Winner
Future Champion: 2011 Giro de Italia Stage Predictor Game Winner (or I'd settle for just kicking Phil's ass)
by JustJoshinYa on May 9, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
go hug your girls. wait, they're in school right now i suppose.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
me, i'm going to go cook. it sustains me (it more ways than one)
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
i don't comment on here much anymore
but I felt compelled after this. of course, it’s tough to really say anything now.
"I'd rather die than live in a world where I can't kick your ass"
My Twittah!
Riders were unaware of what had happened during the race, according to VN's Andrew Hood's twitter
Wouter is Farrar’s best friend, none of the riders knew what happened until they crossed the line; Farrar dropped his bike on hearing news
I picked Riccardo Ricco for my 2011 VDS team, and submitted said team well before the submission deadline. I fully understand the error of my ways, and plead with the VDS Gods to allow me to resubmit my team.
Yeah, that was clear when Wegmann went in the counterattack
And yeah, Farrar and Weylandt are best mates
I like tinkering with the boys.
- majope
Woulter Weyland
Requiescat in Pace
Warning... not everything I say should be taken entirely seriously
Nothing much to add except to say how terribly sorry I am.
Thoughts with his family, friends and colleagues.
I wasn’t watching, the work computer’s not up to that at the minute but it was obvious from the twitter reaction how bad it was.
Hugs to all of you.
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
and to you
No words. My thoughts with all his loved ones. And with you guys, be safe
by Sarah Connolly on May 9, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I just watched the final km on Youtube and wondered why on Earth the reporters were so lethargic
now I know why. Just terrible. RIP Woulter
You can't spell epic without Giro
Wouter Weylandt died from a skull fracture
My thoughts go out to Broerie also, who I think knew Wouter. He at least spoke to him shortly before the Giro.
I like tinkering with the boys.
- majope
Wouter regularly joined (wish I could write 'joins') our group ride,
I wasn’t a friend or so, but whenever he joined the group, I tried to have a chat with him. He was always friendly, always willing to talk about the life as a pro and answer my stupid questions. Questions he heard a million times before, but he always replied friendly and kindly.
I know some members of his family better, so my thoughts go to them primeraly. It must be awful losing a brother, son, husband and father. It must be even worse having to watch it live on tv. I haven’t seen the images and I certainly do not want to see them, but I think RAI made a major mistake here. Showing someone dying in real time is inhuman, indecent and immoral.
The last chat I had with Wouter was last saturday. I asked him how he felt about the Giro. He said it seemed way too tough and he didn’t see much opportunities for himself. He didn’t say it, but he suggested he wanted to give up when the first mountains came into sight. Sadly he never got to see the first real mountain.
Bye bye Wouter,
you will be missed.
by broerie on May 9, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
By all accounts
he sounds like he was a great guy. So sorry…
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Thanks for sharing your thoughts broerie.
The more I learn about him the more I’ll miss him. Every indication is he was a really decent fellow that anyone would have been proud to know.
Sign seen at entrance of local bike shop, " \o/ spoken here.". - Okay, I made it up, but wouldn't that be cool?
I especially agree with the bolded bits - but thanks, Broerie, for taking a moment to provide us insight into WW. Seemed a decent guy.
Huff Post has the video online – fucking atrocious of them. I sent feedback to ask them to take it down just to show respect. They’re attention grabbing mooks. Please contact HuffPost and tell them to take it offline.
Thank you Broerie
There may be a difference between live coverage where nobody is really sure what is going on (as was pointed out to me earlier today) and later pictures. Anyone who still has that vid up on the websites now should take a good hard look in the mirror and see what type of human being they want to be
Warning... not everything I say should be taken entirely seriously
i've asked hubby to ask them to take the video down.
(fyi, hubby works for aol and has been doing a lot of work lately for huffpost. i’m sure he’ll get in touch with the proper people.)
also, need to get youtube to pull it as well.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
thanks - I could only find some contact us emails to send mails too...
I am sure that is a black hole.
video has been switched to a clip of the sky news official report
i’m going to see if i can find a video clip from last year’s giro stage 3 to see if they want to run that as well.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
THANK YOU
and thanks to anyone who intervened here. So not necessary.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions
i'll give this to HuffPost tho, of the numerous sites i've been to today regardig the story, HuffPost is the only ones who didn't go with the "he was airlifted from the course" meme.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
yes, that has been very persistent
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
weird
even Bonnie Ford’s piece had it. There was a pretty clear description from the doctor about his passing before they could get him to the chopper.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Repeated on BBC news just now too.
Of course, they’re only aggregating other sources. I suppose the problem is the doctor’s account was given on RAI in Italian & most Eng lang news orgs are going for Eng lang sources.
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
it shows a pic of WW from a press conference. the only video is when the team cars were moving around the stopped doctor's car.
no video of WW in this clip.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
were you replying to me?
mine is a video of his victory last year
no. if i was replying to you, it would be under your post, not aligned with it.
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
it has to go down below to show as a link you can click on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RGkI4m-mq4
is stage 3
see link below
about Sporza collecting condolences. For strangers, that seems about right.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions
ah right
I totally missed that.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions
The last paragraph brought the tears
He didn’t need to be here, and to die in a pointlessly dangerous first week gimmick stage makes me angry. Designing a stage to get over 200 men to descend a mountain pass together in mad pursuit of a stage win? Just an evil circus act. The Giro needs to reconsider itself. By all rights it should have had two deaths in three years, and it’s not just a coincidence.
by Mr 60 Percent on May 9, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
There was nothing dangerous about this particular descent.
That’s what I’ve heard everywhere. Wouter was a great pilot too.
Some things just happen. No need to seek a scapegoat.
I'll heed your wise words
I do feel though that some reconsideration of Giro course design is in order for the safety of the riders.
by Mr 60 Percent on May 9, 2011 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions
have you seen what the giro planned for the Monte Crostis descent?
think they’ll want to change that after today
Sminer: I blame KARMA for everything.
Jens: I've heard it's a bitch
Water Girl: I heard it ran over your dogma
I think it will stay.
Remember, it won’t have 200 riders going full bore down it in one group. Apart from the Grupetto (which will descend it slowly), you’ll be lucky to see groups of more than 10 riders together after that climb, if that.
That netting too is controversial
its been blamed for knee injuries when skiers have crashed into it
Sminer: I blame KARMA for everything.
Jens: I've heard it's a bitch
Water Girl: I heard it ran over your dogma
hay bales?
Not sure how you predict where the danger is, but it can’t cost too much to borrow a few hundred hay bales for a couple days. Seems silly to think that cycling’s standard response to danger is technology from the dawn of agriculture, but if it helps, it helps.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
netting danger:
maybe to provide a solution to what you mention, this year I noticed fine netting attached to the bottom of the big coarse one, to prevent people/skis getting stuck in it
Well
Andrew Hood did an interview with Garmin director Bingen Fernandez, one of the first responders. According to Fernandez, the descent was very technical, hairpin turn after hairpin turn. He also said the road wasn’t in great shape. But I think you just need to move the word “particular” in your statement – there was nothing particularly dangerous about this descent. Because this isn’t like he was bombing it down the Mortirolo. This was a nothing little cat-3.
The whole descent may have been technical
but the stretch where Wouter crashed was nothing, It was a straight section between hairpins, and the wall he clipped with his pedal was so trivial that it would never be picked up in any pre-race audit of danger spots. Unless you were writing something Britannica sized.
Plus the race doctor himself was there within 30 seconds, joined by a doctor from the Garmin car a minute or so later and a couple of paramedics with a well equipped ambulance a minute or two after that.
What Monty says is correct
The stretch where WW crashed was nearly straight. He looked behind to see where the others were and at that moment he touched the barriers with his pedal. This accident could have happened everywhere.
Did they really
keep video up after it happened? That’s unconscionable. The TV cameras caught a glimpse of Wouter basically dead already bleeding out on the ground, but as soon as the cameraman realized the picture was much, much worse than just that of any old crash, he quickly panned away and the TV cut to aerial shot. No fault in that. But I can’t even imagine posting that on the web.
That's more a culture difference thing
the RAI sport crew were pretty respectful by Italian standards. Yes they took an early shot of him after the crash, but part of the sport’s tough image comes from shots of riders crossing the line covered in blood and bandages. After that they kept a decent distance and even better didn’t broadcast the fact that he had died until his girlfriend had been told.
But if you watch Italian news then you get familiar with the occasional report from say a road accident where you can clearly see behind the reporter a sheet on the ground with a pair of feet sticking out.
yep
There’s been a lot of criticism of Gazzetta today but every Italian newspaper website I looked at last night had (alas) the photos up, not that I looked at them. So Repubblica had a nicely written piece by Capodacqua but also the pictures. It is different.
"I’m hoping for the Mortirolo-Gavia combination, then we can ride down to Bormio for ice cream." Emma Pooley on the Giro Donne
Although in an effort to not be different
(or perhaps to be more European?) the Daily Mail managed to include one of the gorier photos on its web report at least.
Oh gosh, that is horrible
Rest In Peace
Jens! doesn’t have a shadow because he dropped it repeatedly until it retired, climbing into the CSC team car and claiming a stomach ailment.
by dees ees en drama on May 9, 2011 12:54 PM EDT reply actions
Repeating from Ted King's Twitter
Prayers going where they need to go. Go tell someone you love them and mean it.
Sign seen at entrance of local bike shop, " \o/ spoken here.". - Okay, I made it up, but wouldn't that be cool?
i guess that my hope is
that stronger safety regulations and improvements come out of this.
"I'd rather die than live in a world where I can't kick your ass"
My Twittah!
It wasn't on a particularly dangerous part of the course.
A straight stretch of road on a descent, with a stone wall on the mountain side.
RAI news showed a picture of the wall he clipped
nothing particularly out of the ordinary; a stretch of low metal barrier/fence on the cliff side was succeeded by a stretch with a low brick wall that jutted out into the road by the length of a brick. 99 times out of a hundred a rider would make a spectacular save, at most busting a pedal.
Popo said he thought WW looked back at some point...
At this point it’s all speculation, so I hesitate to say more. Terrible accident and horrible tragedy. http://www.leopardtrek.lu/ has their tribute online…
manual cardoso confirms
"Wouter was dropped and tried to come back to the group," Maertens wrote of Cardoso’s reaction. "(Weylandt) then looked behind to see if he would be better to wait for other dropped riders (some 20). While looking behind, he hit with his left pedal or the left side of his handlebars on a small wall and was catapulted to the other side of the road when he hit again something. It must have been terrible."
"Wizard's first rule. People are stupid. They will believe anything they want to be true or fear to be true." -- Terry Goodkind
If you want to see the road
here’s the pic. There’s nothing gruesome in that shot, it just seemed a better idea not to embed it.
Belgian tv news on
Tomorrow’s stage will be neutralised. Leopard-Trek don’t know whether they’ll go on.
I like tinkering with the boys.
- majope
Rest in Peace Wouter
Rest in Peace Wouter. Cycling fans in Canada are deeply saddened by your tragic death. May your unborn son learn to know everything about you and that you were able to be a professional doing what you loved to do.
Thank you, our deepest condolences to your family and friends.
Nothing to add
This is terrible. So sad for everyone who knew him.
- only comfort would be that he died doing what he loved.
Nothing to add that hasn't already been said.
Too numb, too stunned, too much in shock and too sad to do much more than echo what this group, and the cycling fraternity in general is already saying….
"Age and treachery will overcome youth and skill" - Fausto Coppi
I've added a few words above.
No separate post today. No stage preview, I think, for tomorrow. It’s a lovely ride along the sea and hopefully they will find the best way possible to honor Wouter.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
Very well said Chris
All of our condolences go out to Wouter’s friends and family (especially his poor young wife).
It’s a sad sad day.
There's a lot of evidence that tells us that physical activity is helpful in coping with trauma, loss and grief.
I imagine for many of these riders getting on their bikes and riding with the peloton will be the most healing act of all. May they have beautiful conditions and let thoughts and feelings flow.
90kph
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions
What horrible news, how terribly sad.
Rest in peace, Wouter. My deepest condolences to his family and friends.
DAMN!
Nothing else to say. RIP Wouter.
Bike to work. Work to eat. Eat to Live. Live to bike.
Requiescat in pace
Such terrible news. Went into a meeting fearing the worst, ignored the meeting, came out to all of this. Tears in my eyes and, like everyone else, nothing to say. My thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates.
You can leave a message
on a message board at Sporza:
http://sporza.be/cm/sporza/extra/1.1020049
Not sure that will do anything for anyone, though I presume Wouter and his friends read Sporza.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 1:56 PM EDT reply actions
This is an unutterable sadness
There is a wife without a husband and a child without a father. We cannot concieve of the pain they must be bearing and will always bear, so before all else, to them we must extend our sympathies, condolences, commiserations and prayers.
From a fan’s perspective, while we can never get in the mind of another person whom none of us personally know, we can only hope he was doing what he loved, and that this day and every day he was following his dream – a route few of us are talented enough or brave enough to take. We all know the risks the riders take, and they know it more than we do. They do it knowingly, thrillingly, and daringly, so that they can enjoy the pure pleasure of cycling, and we can watch. To an extent, they live our dreams for us – and we are grateful for that.
Amongst the tragedy, despair and sadness of today, I wanted to think of the joy this sport can bring. Cycling, as all man’s activities, can bring great great darkness. But it can also bring unspeakable joy, and I wanted to remember that. So I went to find the image below, to remember Wouter as I hope he would like to be remembered, and to remind ourselves that he had the courage, the ability, and the tenacity to reach for the impossible.
Wouter Weylandt, from all cycling fans, Requiescat in Pace
Warning... not everything I say should be taken entirely seriously
by addict on May 9, 2011 2:06 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
indeed, beautifully said
and let’s not forget the risks we ask riders to take to bring us that joy when we complain about a boring race, or a rider not attacking. rarely, tragically the price of our entertainment can be horribly high
Such a nice words!
If I have to die tomorrow, that is the way I want to go!
90 km/h chasing the Victory on my bike!
"I love bike races warm up, warm down, cobbles mountains or flats."
perezbike
.
Just awful
just looked in to see how the stage went. Horrible.
My prayers go out to WW’s family, especially to his wife and unborn child, and also to his team. I cannot come up with the words…
I've never felt so numb inside
That image of Weylandt lying on the road dying that the TV cameras happened to catch is going to be burned in my memory. I think I’m gonna have nightmares tonight. I can’t recall seeing something so terrible firsthand like that.
an incredibly sad day
My sympathies to all who knew and loved wouter
by shepherds_crook on May 9, 2011 3:04 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
What an incredibly shit day for Belgian cycling
23 year old Matthias Van Mechelen, who rides for continental team Donckers Koffie Jelly Belly, is in an artificial coma after a crash in Kapellen-Glabbeek on Sunday. He’s got a fractured skull, but he’s not critical any more. The doctors will decide tomorrow when to wake him up from his coma.
Donckers Koffie Jelly Belly best known rider is former QuickStepper Kevin Hulsmans, a very good friend of Wouter Weylandt.
I like tinkering with the boys.
- majope
RIP Wouter Weylandt
I feel as badly as everyone else here. I want to add my own heartfelt condolences to his family and to our broader community. We’ll have to heal together.
Maybe we should consider what we might do as a community of “Internet Forum People” to express our condolences to the family. I don’t know; I’m just dealing with this in a swirl of thoughts, like everybody else.
"In addition, it also showed an enormous lack of respect to my dog, whose name they changed." - Oscar Pereiro
I heard this news on the radio on the way home
and had to pull the car over. It’s rare to even get cycling news on the radio in the UK, and I was actually about to get angry as the race result had suggested Cav lost a race lead that he might have contended. Then the words that followed just left me feeling empty.
Coming up for 6 years ago I lost my sister in a car accident, and I had a similar feeling then. Whenever I learn of someone else’s loss in reasonably similar circumstances, my mind flickers back to memories I have, and I just ache for the family and friends of the fallen.
Hopefully his wife, family and all those who knew him well can be consoled in that he would not have suffered. That certainly was a great comfort to my parents.
When we see riders crash, especially those in orange, we tend to have a laugh and a joke about it, and we mean nothing bad in that. A broken collarbone, well you ought to be able to trivialise that in most cases.
But these riders do take serious risks, as we all do as cyclists. Let the memory of this remind us all to take care on descents, don’t get carried away, always bear in mind there could be something around the corner that we don’t expect, whether it be a car parked in a stupid place or a wall we hadn’t expected, and keep our concentration and our eyes forward.
And remember Wouter Weylandt for the rider he was – one who picked his moments to shine and died doing something that thousands if not millions aspire to do. He had some cracking victories, stuck in my mind is the grave symmetry of his win in last year’s stage 3 of the Giro as it passed through the Netherlands.
RIP WW, and my condolences to your family and all those who knew you.
by ike2112 on May 9, 2011 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Beautifully put Ike
I’m also very sorry for your loss, i hope today’s event haven’t brought about lots of bad memories for yourself.
Thanks Millsy
It does a bit, and the feeling is awful. But what makes it worse is that I know how I feel is with near 6 years of mourning and ‘getting used to it’. When it’s fresh it’s a million times worse, and that is what is upsetting, thinking of how all of WW’s friends and family and the other riders feel.
We’re more or less distanced from that though, and as I say if there’s one thing we take from this as a community, it’s a reminder to take care. I’m a much more careful driver after my personal loss, and from Monday 9 May 2011 I’m a more careful cyclist.
T r a g e d i a
We offer all our strength and respect to all of those close to Wouter, especially his expecting wife and his mother. He went from a moment of joy at work, on a sunny spring day, to his rest, without suffering.
There will be much chatter about the road condition, the equipment, the rider(s), speed, rules, radios, etc. But there is no fault. Wouter was a superb bike handler and had encountered similar situations tens of thousands of times before without grief.
What happened was that dozens of stars of dangerous fate lined up for a rare, instantaneous moment. It could have happened to any of the 207 riders. Some call it a freak accident. In pro cycling, there often is one or two of the dark stars present, but not all. A few of those were out of alignment when Eduard Vorganov fell hard yesterday. And all but one was off in 2009 when Jens Voigt fell in the Tour and Pedro Horrillo fell in the Giro. Look for David Millar’s straight-up observations of the risks, then later look for someone like Michael Barry for a contextual and eloquent tribute.
No other culture in the western world acknowledges this like the Italiani do, and their respect for death is as high as their fervour for life. Wouter finished his race, and did it in a beautiful place. And because of where it happened, he will be remembered more deeply, through the admiration of the Italiani, who so dearly understand the precious life of a corridore.
by Kevstar on May 9, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
David Millar
I will wear the pink jersey tomorrow, but it will be in memory of Wouter; there is no celebration or glory, only sadness. I will discuss with Tyler, [Team] Leopard and the family of Wouter what we as a peloton will do tomorrow.
Courtesy of Bonnie Ford’s piece.
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 6:00 PM EDT reply actions
Hard to type anything
felt numb all this morning riding aimelssly to work :-(
r.i.p. WW
We're all just coffee addicts - with a cycling problem:
(not fast enough to hold the wheel of those we watch)
My son is there.
He rides for Garmin. As a parent I am terrified for him when I hear of a tragedy such as this. Before this race started I told him to take care – I didn’t want him to take unnecessary risks because he is caught up in the adrenalin/excitement and prestige of racing the Giro. I have been at work all day so I haven’t really had time to process what has happened. Many of you have posted beautiful sentiments that have brought tears to my eyes. Peter paced Tyler up the climb and then stopped to give him a wheel when Tyler flatted. I am not sure yet if Peter was in front of or behind Wouter when the accident occurred. He is shaken but he says he is OK. Tyler, however, is crushed.
by gard_19 on May 9, 2011 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 4 recs
Best wishes to you and your family.
I imagine many of the partners and parents of the riders will have their fears renewed with this terrible incident. I guess it’s important to remember that these types of events are actually very rare. I hope you can give yourself some extra care in the days to come.
Thank you for this
I imagine, being a parent, how hard this is, even for families like yours with such deep experience in the sport. Is it better to know how the sport works or not? Maybe a little of both.
[Peter has been a joy to interact with here, by the way. Nice kid you got there.]
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 9, 2011 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions
he's kind of loopy though
(in a v good way)
by JustJoshinYa on May 10, 2011 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions
So shocking
I weep for him, and for his family and friends.
I am grateful for the PdC community on such a sad day.
by uninformed consent on May 10, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions
I'm sure they'll ride some small part of the course at about 20 kph
let the Leopard boys cross first, and donate the day’s prize money to Weylandt’s wife. Isn’t that what happened with Fabio Casartelli? Quite sad that there even is a precedent to follow.
Just........ Yeah, in a state of shock.
Couldn’t watch the stage last night due to an early start and then to wake up with a shock like that this morning was just devastating….. People [myself included] talk about doping etc. but something like this is really the worst thing that could ever happen to cycling. I really feel for his family and friends and hope that with time they can begin to heal and celebrate his legacy.
I was at the stage yesterday, my whole life I’ve wanted to come watch the Giro and when I finally get the chance, this happens, it still seems so surreal. We were watching from up on the Madonna delle grazie and I had heard some mention of a bad crash, but no one knew the details or had any idea. It wasn’t till we got down off the course that I saw a TV with RAI sport showing helicopter footage of the scene with an ambulance, a few team cars and a sheet on the ground that I realized what had happened, even then with the Italian I know I couldnt figure out who it was until I was able to get to a computer. What a tragedy, it really really sucks when something like this happens in any sport.
Godspeed WW
R.I.P Wouter.. You beautiful smile will be missed.
This tragic accident made it all the way here on the news im getting in Afghanistan, I was only complaining the other day I could not watch the Giro here…. this is not what i wanted to see. . So many people were talking about the accident, It was a pleasure to let people know I had met him very quickly and that he always seemed to have a smile on his face..
My thoughts are with Woulters family, friends, teammates and all who are feeling the loss..
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
Oops sorry bad spelling - My thoughts are with Wouters family, friends, teammates and all who are feeling the loss!
"the rest was over 30. And that doesn't mean old and useless, but experienced and with the stamina"
Jens! Voigt, Crit Intl Interview, 2009
stay safe over there!
If cobble delusions are wrong, who wants to be right? -JFS PGH
by Chris Fontecchio on May 10, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
www.hill108project.blogspot.com
Coming back from the Giro i have had time to find this and other sites citing the events surrounding Wouter’s death !
Comments on the spur of the moment have been quite moving and demonstrate how tightly knit the Cycling Community can be !
During the Giro i had posted my tribute to Wouter on www.tourdafrance.blogspot.com .
Passing over the Passo Mendola in sunny conditions i decided to take a farewell ride both sides and as i did this reviewed Giro Events and decided to set up a book of Condolence which is in the Hotel Dolomiti at the Pass .
R.I.P. Wouter you treated ALL your fans with respect and were always ready with a smile !
SKIPPY AN ADVOCATE FOR DISABLED SPORT
by Skippy Mc Carthy on Jun 2, 2011 4:36 AM EDT reply actions
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