Road Bike Racing - not again (Marco Rusconi)

from cyclingnews.com:

Italian hopeful Rusconi dies
The Italian cycling community was shocked by the unexpected death of young Italian cyclist Marco Rusconi, who died on the night of Friday, November 14. Rusconi, who had just turned 24, rode for the amateur team Ceramiche Pagnoncelli, and came from Binago, Italy. The cause of death appears to be heart failure, according to a Datasport report.


Ouch :(
Kind of odd how these heart failures strike the most fit of people. I guess serious road cycling isn't good for the body, eh? I think I'll go back to doing 12mph rides.

The level that Euro pros ride at is not healthy for the body. There's been many a pro who's dropped dead of a heart attack at 45.

All due respect to the deceased may He rest in peace.



"There's been many a pro who has dropped dead of a heart attack at 45"

it's not the cycling thats bad for them, its the doping.

Let me repharse that: Many a pro rider who never doped has dropped dead of a heart attack at 45. Putting that much food through your system and pushing your heart that much is just not healthy.

This is a sad story.

Remember a few years ago when it seemed like Dutch riders were dropping like flys? It was that damn EPO.

update on cyclingnews:

Autopsy carried out on Rusconi
An autopsy carried out on the body of 24 year old Italian hopeful Marco Rusconi, who died last Friday evening, November 14, of heart failure, revealed that he may have had a congenital heart problem. The examinations revealed evidence of a degenerative cardiac pathology that manifested itself suddenly. Before his death, Rusconi was set to enter the professional ranks in 2004.

And now Jose-Maria Jimenez just died of a heart attack (32 years old).