Michele Scarponi RIP

[Squire]

Re: Re:

I am without words.. Woke up and didn't feel like getting out of bed and did a bit of scrolling through Facebook, when I saw a shared article by a friend who I didn't know was into cycling. At first I didn't believed it, thought it was an erros, how was it possible? Even a few days ago he was racing and winning, how could have it happened to him? Then reality struck and I saw all the articles and riders reactions...

It shows how things can change in a moment, one day you are winning, preparing your goals, and the next day you lose it all in a moment when you can't do nothing due to another's fault. It's things like this that put me away from my bike, knowing that in a moment, by some maniac's antics (not saying that this specific case was caused by a maniac), I could lose it all.

RIP Scarpo, you left us too soon.

Agreed.

It still feels unreal, somewhat like if it was just fake. It will take some time to sink in.

This is exact the way I feel too. It doesn't feel real.

One of the stars of the sport I've been following so closely for so long is suddenly gone. And one I really liked, too. It's gonna take a while to digest.

 

[Robert5091]

Shock ... Condolences to his family. Will be missed.

 

[mikii4567]

Re: Re:

I am without words.. Woke up and didn't feel like getting out of bed and did a bit of scrolling through Facebook, when I saw a shared article by a friend who I didn't know was into cycling. At first I didn't believed it, thought it was an erros, how was it possible? Even a few days ago he was racing and winning, how could have it happened to him? Then reality struck and I saw all the articles and riders reactions...

It shows how things can change in a moment, one day you are winning, preparing your goals, and the next day you lose it all in a moment when you can't do nothing due to another's fault. It's things like this that put me away from my bike, knowing that in a moment, by some maniac's antics (not saying that this specific case was caused by a maniac), I could lose it all.

RIP Scarpo, you left us too soon.

Agreed.

It still feels unreal, somewhat like if it was just fake. It will take some time to sink in.

This is exact the way I feel too. It doesn't feel real.

One of the stars of the sport I've been following so closely for so long is suddenly gone. And one I really liked, too. It's gonna take a while to digest.

IMO Katusha put it perfectly on Twitter - "one big family". Yes, everyone who follows cycling is effectively part of the family of the sport and with Scarpa, it is basically similar to a family member dying. I'm still lost for words, I hoped he would do amazing at the Giro & show the world what he's capable of... it's so devastating it seems unreal.

 

[MikeTichondrius]

Came back from a morning ride to this...What a slap into reality. Nothing much else to be said. Scarponi was a class act and a mainstay of this sport since I've started watching. This is just one of those pieces of news that you wish you never have to read.

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

Damn. Just terrible news. Everything seemed to be going so well for him. First win in years just a couple of days ago and in fine form with another chance to lead at the Giro. Such a small consolation but I'm happy his kids finally got to see him win.

"First to my twin sons Giacomo and Tommaso – who often ask me when I'm going to win. And of course, this win is also for my wife, too, before I forget to mention her."

RIP, Michele.

In tears again </3

 

[Amsterhammer]

Devastatingly sad and tragic news.

RIP Michele

 

[Mr.White]

Riposa in pace Grande Michele!

 

[Scarponi]

The high of last week my favourite rider finally getting a win again to the all time low. I just had put in for time off work so I could stay up late and watch his last tilt at a GC run in the Giro mountains. Beyond devastated, I don't know what else to say but thanks for the great nights and memories

 

[peloton]

The high of last week my favourite rider finally getting a win again to the all time low. I just had put in for time off work so I could stay up late and watch his last tilt at a GC run in the Giro mountains. Beyond devastated, I don't know what else to say but thanks for the great nights and memories

Safe to say we are all with you. Devastating. Absolutely devastating

 

[dfromdub]

He was such a lovely man.

Have you guys seen the videos of him training with Frankie the parrot? There's a lot of footage on his twitter account in the past months. These are all links to his twitter account cause I am not capable to embed them properly in this forum (I hope I am not breaking any rule here).
https://t.co/Qg5RGPyHBP
https://t.co/dv3Q9BJIwy
https://t.co/BUprDy0JG2
https://t.co/y3614iGFSV

As far as I got, that parrot's owner let it roam free in the village during the day and it just took a liking on Michele and started following him around during his training session. I wonder if the colors of the Astana apparel also played a factor.
It's sad to think that even this parrot will be waiting around to see him show up on the road...

 

[Scarponi]

Sep Vanmarcke‏ @sepvanmarcke
What a terrible news @MicheleScarponi. I'll never forget the times you started singing a song in the middle of peloton. #RIPMichele. This made me giggle a little bit imagining him doing this in a professional race while I'm puffing up little hills. It's so him

 

[LaFlorecita]

Re:

I can´t find words for this
one of my most favourite riders ever
I can´t stop crying right now, I feel like some of my family member is gone

The high of last week my favourite rider finally getting a win again to the all time low. I just had put in for time off work so I could stay up late and watch his last tilt at a GC run in the Giro mountains. Beyond devastated, I don't know what else to say but thanks for the great nights and memories

Big hug to you both!

 

[mariposa]

A lovely tribute from Luis Angel Mate on Facebook.

"My friend Michele, today you made me cry a lot, but I forgive you because you made me laugh many more times. You're going so soon, but you will remain in my memory forever, I'll remember every day my friend, you taught me a lot and it was a gift of life to meet you, an exceptional person and outstanding. You miss you bene miche."

I always remember them laughing and joking together before a race a couple of years ago.
It is so difficult to understand why someone so happy, nice and well respected is taken in this way.

 

[mcduff]

There have been some big names in several areas of the cycling world go down these past few weeks. Mike Hall, 3 weeks ago, and now this. I guess its an occupational hazard, but it really shouldn't be.

Tragic.

 

[RedheadDane]

Honestly, when I first saw this post this morning - with its first headline, which feels like such a long time ago - my first reaction was to head to facebook, desperately hoping for a post from Astana telling everybody that it was okay, that it was indeed just a rumour.
Obviously such a post never came...

 

[slosada]

I woke up this morning to this terrible news. My thoughts are with his family and friends.

 

[Escarabajo]

I still don't believe it. I just read the news after my training ride. He looked like a great human being to be around. Always with a smile. RIP.

 

[Angliru]

One of the two pro's (Purito was the other) that just the mention of their name or seeing a photo of them would make me smile. I could only say "NOOOOOO!!" when I saw the news. The image of him with his twins the day before is just.... Damn!

 

[Stilletto]

Well and truly touched and shaken by the news.
A couple of days ago I punched the sky as you won in tour of alps, happy and content to know that the sport we like/love and follow good guys don't always finish last ! It was pleasure to see all his antics with his family, team mates and off course frankie on Twitter.
He was a great character and will surely be missed, was looking forward to him flying the Astana banner at the giro watching his team work their socks off not just for their leader but also good friend, like he has done to others in the past.
I made sure to give my girls an extra kiss and a squeeze tonight for bedtime.
Knowing that Michele's boys won't have that tonight and ever again is saddening and my thoughts and prayers go out to them and his wife.

Grande Michele !
RIP

 

[jens_attacks]

Don't scroll down on the cnn piece. The pic with anna is too much. ((

 

[Pennino]

I'm still shocked, probably my 115 km ride with emotional italian songs on my earphones made it just worse. Almost everyday seeing a tweet or some video footage of Scarponi gave a welcome boost to my humour. My alltime favourite Scarpa moment is when Vittorio Brumotti teached him some relatively basic bike jumping skills on a metre-high ramp and Scarpa should copy him afterwards. But instead he climbed off his bike (in the most clownesk way somebody can do that, especially a pro), handed it over to Brumotti and then asked someone to hold his hand while he stepped down that ramp (again like a 87 year old instead of a top fit athlete, hahaha).

Very strange feeling. I don't know what saddens me more: the death of the man himself, or the grief of everybody who loved him or liked him. His kids, his wife, Frankje, his family, his friends, the fellow riders, the fans.... endless tragedy here.

 

[Stingray34]

Everyone that's ridden long enough has lost friends to the road. It's always someone going really well, with a lot to look forward to. So many want to be a pro, or be like them, without it occurring that professionals are exactly like us and that not all of their work takes place under controlled conditions.

Michele was a good professional, yet his charm was his humour and humanity. Today we lost a friend the way many have been lost before - suddenly, stupidly, needlessly on a beautiful sunny Saturday morning.

Best wishes to the Scarponi family.

 

[aphronesis]

This is incredibly sad, as Stingray says he was such a warm human being.

 

[SHAD0W93]

Sad to hear him go. I read it this morning and didn't believe it. 7 hrs later I still don't. I wish the best to his wife and kids.

 

[Kwibus]

Why.. why Michele?

Life can be so cruel. You will be missed...

Im just gutted. All the best to his wife, kids and otger people close to him.