Sara Piffer, a promising 19-year-old Italian rider, died during a training outing on Friday, the Italian Professional Cyclists’ Association (ACCPI) said, after she was reportedly hit by a car.
The Team Mendelspeck rider Piffer was struck by the vehicle on a minor road during a training session in Italy’s northern Trentino region, according to Italian media.
“Our thoughts are with the family of our associate, with Mendelspeck, with the group companions, and with all those who today are devastated by the pain of yet another life lost to road violence,” the ACCPI said in a statement.
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Reports in Italy say she was training between Mezzocorona and Mezzolombardo alongside her brother Christian when a car struck her while the driver was attempting to overtake another vehicle. La Gazzetta dello Sport said Christian sustained minor injuries.
Piffer joined the Continental-level team last year and enjoyed a host of strong results, including victory at the Under-23 Giornata Nazionale Rosa one-day race and fourth place in the team time trial at October’s Italian national championships.
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