This archive report was first published on 11 October 2019.
On Saturday, 22-year-old Italian cyclist Giovanni Iannelli tragically lost his life in a high-speed collision while competing in the Trofeo Bassa Valle Scrivia near Milan, Italy.
According to reports, Iannelli was racing at a speed of 37mph when he crashed headfirst into a concrete pillar just 100 metres from the finish line.
Emergency crews administered resuscitation at the scene before airlifting him to a hospital in Alessandria, where surgeons desperately tried to save him in an emergency operation to remove a haematoma on Sunday night.
Unfortunately, Iannelli failed to regain consciousness and passed away surrounded by his friends, family, and girlfriend Rebecca Magherini.
The Italian Cycling Federation (FCI) has launched an investigation into the fatal accident, which occurred in wet conditions amidst a collision amongst the leading group of racers.
Iannelli, who hailed from nearby Prato, had ambitions to join a big team on the World Tour and had finished 57th in the national under-23 championships.
His family has since agreed for his organs to be donated, and girlfriend Rebecca posted a poem on her Instagram page along with a picture of Iannelli.
