Vincenzo Nibali devastated by news that a teen he sponsored was killed while cycling
Nibali was reportedly in tears before the start of the Giro's Stage 9 time trial upon hearing the news
Purtroppo sono stato raggiunto da una triste notizia?? RIP Rosario non ci sono parole, 1' di silenzio. #AsdNibali pic.twitter.com/G0wjJLaHzU
— Vincenzo Nibali (@vincenzonibali) May 15, 2016
A 14-year-old rider who was said be to like a godson to Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) was struck and killed by a car along a coastal road in Messina. Nibali, who is currently contesting the 2016 Giro d’Italia, was devastated by the news before he took the start of yesterday’s Stage 9 time trial. Rosario Costa rode for the ASD Nibali youth cycling team sponsored by the three-time grand tour winner.
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Vincenzo Nibali is reported to have been in tears before the start of yesterday’s Stage 9 time trial at the Giro d’Italia after learning of the death of Costa. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Costa was riding along a coastal road accompanied by his father and a group of friends when he was involved in a collision with a municipal garbage truck approaching from the opposite direction.
Nibali received the news of the passing of the promising young cyclist from his home town upon returning from a reconnaissance of the time trial course that passed through Tuscany’s Chianti Classico wine-growing area. Rosario finished fifth in the Sicilian junior championships. In memory of the young man, Nibali who is the Italian national road champion tweeted a collection of photos of the young rider. “Unfortunately I’ve heard some sad news. RIP Rosario, there are no words. 1 minute’s silence,” Nibali wrote in his tweet.
Nibali currently sits fifth overall at the Giro and finished 19th on the stage. The collision is currently under investigation by the authorities. The incident was reportedly captured by closed-circuit television cameras on a commercial premise nearby.
