Cycling is one sport where you race against competitors of the same skill level with the winner taking the overall championship, but as a rider you always have to expect the unexpected.
The last Olympic Athlete that many might remember is that of the Georgian Luger who suffered a fatal crash during a training run in Whistler on the day of the opening ceremony.
He became only the fourth Athlete to have died during the Winter Olympic preparations and the seventh athlete to die in either the Summer or Winter Olympic Games.
Such was the case in Rio on the Paralympic road race where 48 year old Iranian cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad died following a horrific crash in the C4-5 road race early Saturday morning on a mountainous stretch of the course.
The announcement was released by the Iranian National Paralympic Committee and Krasney Law.
We are hearing that he was descending down an extremely steep part of the road course.
Statements say it’s believed he is to be the first athlete to die at any Paralympics Games.
He was treated at the scene, then transported to the local hospital and suffered a heart attack while being transferred to the hospital.
The ambulance was then taken to the Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after they had arrived.
The IPC statement read: “It is with deep sadness and regret that the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) confirms the death of the Iranian Para cyclist Bahman Golbarnezhad following an accident in this morning’s (September 17) road race at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
Not to surprising that the Paralympic Flag with be flown at half-mast in the Paralympic Village and also at the Riocentro venue where Iran plays Bosnia and Herzegovina on Sunday in the sitting volleyball gold medal match.
Brian Cookson, President of Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, added: “I am devastated to hear about the death of Iranian rider Bahman Golbarnezhad.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, and the NPC of Iran to whom we offer our most sincere condolences.”
A moment of silence will be held during Sunday night’s closing ceremony.
As expected an investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been started by a personal injury lawyer davenport.
Other Cycling Tragedy – Yesteryear & 2016
1986 Emilio Ravasio of Italy died 2 weeks after crashing during the first stage of the Giro d’Italia.
1987 Spain’s Vincente Mata died after being hit by a car during the Luis-Puig Trophy.
1987 Michel Goffin (Belgium) died after a six-day spell in a coma following a crash at the Tour du Haut-Var in France.
1988 Connie Meijer (Holland) died after she had a heart attack during a Criterium in Holland.
1995 Fabio Casartelli (Italy), the reigning Olympic champion, died a few hours after sustaining injuries in a crash on a Pyreneean descent during the 15th stage of the Tour de France.
1996 José Antonio Espinosa (Spain) died from injuries sustained after colliding with a race official during the team time-trial section at the Criterium de Fuenlabrada in Spain.
Ride Safe!!!
