Sara Piffer, a rising star in the cycling world, tragically passed away after being struck by a car in Italy’s northern Trentino region.
The 19-year-old cyclist died during a training session on Friday, as reported by the Italian Professional Cyclists’ Association (ACCPI) and The Guardian.
Despite paramedics’ best efforts to save her and an evacuation by a hospital helicopter, they were unable to help.
“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,” said the ACCPI in a statement.
The Team Mendelspeck rider was training between Mezzocorona and Mezzolombardo when a car collided with her while trying to overtake another vehicle.
Sara was cycling alongside her brother Christian, who suffered only minor injuries.
Sara joined the continental-level team last year and had an incredible season, including a victory in the Under-23 Giornata Nazionale Rosa one-day race and a fourth-place finish in the team time trial at the Italian National Championships in October.
Team director Renato Pirrone described her as a “fantastic person, really motivated, and a very talented individual. We are now left with the pain of what could have been and won’t ever come to pass.”
Sara was also a gifted track racer, placing second in the Madison event at the Italian Nationals in 2021.
