• Giro d'Italia

Weylandt dies in crash at Giro

Wouter Weylandt won Stage Three of last year's Giro d'Italia © Getty Images

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Wouter Weylandt died in a crash during Stage Three of the Giro d'Italia.

Belgian rider Weylandt from the Leopard-Trek team took a sickening fall on a downhill stretch of the Passo del Bocco towards the end of the stage into Rapallo and doctors were quickly on the scene to perform CPR.

Initial reports are suggesting one of Weylandt's pedals caught a wall and he was thrown to the ground at high speed.

Doctors were seen cutting Weylandt's helmet before he was administered adrenaline and atropine and cardiac massage was carried out for a considerable period. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, Weylandt was pronounced dead.

"Despite immediate treatment there was nothing we could do," doctor Giovanni Tredici told Italian television.

"Today, our team-mate and friend Wouter Weylandt passed away after a crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia," said Leopard-Trek Manager Brian Nygaard. "The team is left in a state of shock and sadness and we send all our thoughts and deepest condolences to the family and friends of Wouter.

"This is a difficult day for cycling and for our team, and we should all seek support and strength in the people close to us."

Weylandt, 26, won the same stage of the Giro 12 months ago. He also tasted grand tour success in the 2008 Vuelta a Espana.

Britain's David Millar came home in second behind Angel Vicioso to take the leader's jersey from Mark Cavendish, but there was no podium presentation as organisers took the decision to cancel following Weylandt's accident.

HTC-Highroad rider Cavendish wrote on Twitter: "Things like this shouldn't happen. Absolutely sick to the stomach. My thoughts are with his family. RIP Wouter Weylandt."

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