Michele Scarponi RIP

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Feb 23, 2014
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I'm gutted....in a way it's been a terrible last month for cyclists. My heart goes out to his family and friends. As an English speaker I didn't always get the full picture of how great his personality was, but I definitely understood the sentiment that he was a greatly liked individual in the peloton. So so so sad... :(

Folks, please be safe out there.
 
Feb 20, 2010
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Velolover2 said:
This is really heartbreaking. The last picture he posted on Twitter.

I feel weird. I'm always sad when a semi-pro/pro cyclist die in a crash but I don't really know them. When Scarponi died, it was like something died inside of me. Something familiar. He was such an integral part of the World Tour peloton. A peloton I've been following for years.

Anybody feel the same way?
Certainly nothing wrong in that. It's always a terrible thing to hear when a rider's been killed, but the way you come to it and the connection to the rider will always vary. Michele Scarponi has been a rider in such a prominent position in the péloton for so many years now that for many of us he's been almost an everpresent in our cycling fandom, and playing a major role in some of the most memorable stages of our times, and so all of us who follow the sport are aware of him and know his palmarès, his achievements, and so on. That's not to say that it makes his death more sad than, say, Victor Cabedo's or Antoine Demoitié's by any means, but the prominence of Scarponi within the péloton is such that more fans have the opportunity to develop that kind of personal attachment. I really felt Demoitié was a guy who deserved the step up to the top level of Classics...but I could probably quote you Scarponi's whole palmarès and how some of his most dramatic contributions unfurled, right off the top of my head years later; as such the impact of somebody so prominent dying so suddenly will be felt more not because it's sadder but because we've got that greater knowledge of both Michele Scarponi the cyclist and Michele Scarponi the man.

The other thing is how sudden it was, and happening so early in the day as well, so for a lot of us we pretty much woke up to the news, and it was final. It was confirmed very quickly, so there was no chance to adjust to the situation, like there was with, say, Daan Myngheer or Antoine Demoitié; in their cases we knew their condition was critical, so we could steel ourselves for the worst and so when the worst was confirmed we were ready for it, knowing that was the likely outcome but hoping against hope otherwise. With Michele, I went to bed on Friday night with him having been one of the best riders in the Giro's #1 preparation race, and I woke up on Saturday morning with him dead. That's always going to be hard to take.

For me, the one that really hit me the most for the same kind of reasons was Xavier Tondó. The cycling community had already been rocked that month by the very public and shocking death of Wouter Weylandt, but I'd been following Xavi's career for years and desperately hoping he could get a chance at the big time, he finally made it to the top tier at 31 and won his last ever race, and then suddenly I went to check on my lunch break at work to see who was in the break that day at the Giro only to find the headlines were about Tondó having died, and just not being able to comprehend it and needing to take a few minutes outside to compose myself and digest a truth that I simply didn't want to accept. Because it didn't make sense to me, it couldn't be real.
 
May 23, 2009
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Libertine Seguros said:
[quote="
For me, the one that really hit me the most for the same kind of reasons was Xavier Tondó. The cycling community had already been rocked that month by the very public and shocking death of Wouter Weylandt, but I'd been following Xavi's career for years and desperately hoping he could get a chance at the big time, he finally made it to the top tier at 31 and won his last ever race, and then suddenly I went to check on my lunch break at work to see who was in the break that day at the Giro only to find the headlines were about Tondó having died, and just not being able to comprehend it and needing to take a few minutes outside to compose myself and digest a truth that I simply didn't want to accept. Because it didn't make sense to me, it couldn't be real.
I have to agree with you there. Tondo's passing had the added tragedy of Beñat Intxausti being there to witness the whole incident. I can't imagine what he would have gone through having that all happen right in front of him.

Something like that would stay with you for life. Anna Scarponi possibly feels the same way being able to arrive so soon after the incident.
 
May 15, 2011
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jens_attacks said:
Don't scroll down on the cnn piece. The pic with anna is too much. :(((
Saw that. Was discussing with some others if it was her. Then saw a screenshot of her crying into his chest :cry: combined with the people on the background looking very upset it was simply too much :(
 
Numbing. So loved by the tifosi. In the words of Davide Cassani: "I wish I could say...Eh Michele, no, no Michele, don't go out on your bike today." Che ti sia lieve la terra, ex ragazzo di Filottrano.
 
Jun 8, 2016
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I have thought about it the whole day yesterday. Totally unfair that such a lovable person goes so early. You can see by the reactions what kind of respect Scarponi had in the peloton. Just saw the image of Gasparotto crying at the start today, heartbreaking.. My thoughts go to his family and friends. RIP Scarpa.
 
Apr 17, 2013
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Really touching pictures from the startline of L-B-L of Fuglsang and Grivko crying. It is still really hard to fathom.
 
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:( :( :(
 
Aug 21, 2011
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Libertine Seguros said:
Velolover2 said:
This is really heartbreaking. The last picture he posted on Twitter.

I feel weird. I'm always sad when a semi-pro/pro cyclist die in a crash but I don't really know them. When Scarponi died, it was like something died inside of me. Something familiar. He was such an integral part of the World Tour peloton. A peloton I've been following for years.

Anybody feel the same way?
absolutely the same. So difficult not to keep thinking about him.

Certainly nothing wrong in that. It's always a terrible thing to hear when a rider's been killed, but the way you come to it and the connection to the rider will always vary. Michele Scarponi has been a rider in such a prominent position in the péloton for so many years now that for many of us he's been almost an everpresent in our cycling fandom, and playing a major role in some of the most memorable stages of our times, and so all of us who follow the sport are aware of him and know his palmarès, his achievements, and so on. That's not to say that it makes his death more sad than, say, Victor Cabedo's or Antoine Demoitié's by any means, but the prominence of Scarponi within the péloton is such that more fans have the opportunity to develop that kind of personal attachment. I really felt Demoitié was a guy who deserved the step up to the top level of Classics...but I could probably quote you Scarponi's whole palmarès and how some of his most dramatic contributions unfurled, right off the top of my head years later; as such the impact of somebody so prominent dying so suddenly will be felt more not because it's sadder but because we've got that greater knowledge of both Michele Scarponi the cyclist and Michele Scarponi the man.

The other thing is how sudden it was, and happening so early in the day as well, so for a lot of us we pretty much woke up to the news, and it was final. It was confirmed very quickly, so there was no chance to adjust to the situation, like there was with, say, Daan Myngheer or Antoine Demoitié; in their cases we knew their condition was critical, so we could steel ourselves for the worst and so when the worst was confirmed we were ready for it, knowing that was the likely outcome but hoping against hope otherwise. With Michele, I went to bed on Friday night with him having been one of the best riders in the Giro's #1 preparation race, and I woke up on Saturday morning with him dead. That's always going to be hard to

For me, the one that really hit me the most for the same kind of reasons was Xavier Tondó. The cycling community had already been rocked that month by the very public and shocking death of Wouter Weylandt, but I'd been following Xavi's career for years and desperately hoping he could get a chance at the big time, he finally made it to the top tier at 31 and won his last ever race, and then suddenly I went to check on my lunch break at work to see who was in the break that day at the Giro only to find the headlines were about Tondó having died, and just not being able to comprehend it and needing to take a few minutes outside to compose myself and digest a truth that I simply didn't want to accept. Because it didn't make sense to me, it couldn't be real.[/

Agree with everything you say. Such a Feeling of disbelief reading the news about Michele. I even tried to think if it was April 1st and someone was making an incredibly cruel Joke. I just didn't want it to be true.
I still have a lump in my throat or tears every time I think of Xabi Tondo. His struggle to get to the top, his unfulfilled dreams and the incredibly senseless nature of his death as well as his lovely smile. I am certain it will be the same when I think of Michele.
They were very similar in lots of ways, happy, fun loving ,so full of life and passionate about cycling and living and loved by fans and colleagues alike.
My thoughts now are with Michele's wife and two beautiful little boys, family ,friends and team.
 
Jul 28, 2016
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DNP-Old said:

Frankie perched on the sign :( :(
I'll be missing Michele Scarponi and thinking of him for a long time. As they say, sometimes you don't realize how much someone means to you until they are gone. And I can't believe he's gone - like Frankie, I'll be looking for him.