Rival team makes remarkable gesture to honour Luca Salvadori

Determination to finish the race

On July 10 this year, cyclist Luca Salvadori died in a horrific crash during the final stage of the Strade Bianche. The 26-year-old UCI Continental Team Beltrami TSA Tre Colli rider came off his bike in the closing stages of the 184km one-day race and died at the scene.

In a remarkable gesture of sportsmanship, and to honour the memory of Salvadori, his fellow UCI Continental Team, Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè, took the decision to finish the race with just four riders, instead of the permitted seven. The team's fifth rider, Alessandro Tonelli, had been dropped earlier in the race, while the sixth and seventh riders, Davide Gabburo and Filippo Fiorelli, pulled out of the race as a mark of respect to Salvadori.

Demonstration of respect

Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè's decision to finish the race with a reduced number of riders was a powerful demonstration of respect for Salvadori and his family. It was also a reminder of the close-knit nature of the cycling community, and the fact that even in the midst of competition, there is still room for compassion and sportsmanship.

The gesture was met with widespread praise from the cycling world, with many riders and teams taking to social media to express their admiration for Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè's decision. The UCI, cycling's world governing body, also praised the team's actions, saying that they were "a fitting tribute to a talented young rider who will be sadly missed."

Salvadori's death was a tragedy, but Bardiani-CSF-Faizanè's gesture has shown that even in the darkest of times, there is still hope and humanity to be found. Their decision to finish the race with a reduced number of riders was a powerful reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and respect, and it is a gesture that will not be forgotten by the cycling community.