Tour de France - Tour de France deaths

1935 - Spanish racer Francisco Cepeda died after plunging down a ravine on the Col du Galibier.

1967 - Tom Simpson died of heart failure during the ascent of Mont Ventoux. Amphetamines were found in Simpson's jersey and in his blood.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/87/218890170_8c6682e3f5.jpg

1995 - Fabio Casartelli crashed at approximately 88 km/h (55 mph) descending the Col de Portet d'Aspet. Casartelli hit his head on a concrete block and died on the scene.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/24/57574399_e334405a4b.jpg?v=0


Wherever you guys are, keep the rubber side down and may the wind always be at your back!

I think because of these cases is why they put in drug and safety restrictions

2008. The Tour de France itself. Died of a drug overdose.

Laggard- Is that your cool sports folder in front of the second statue?

There are at least 2 more. Fabio Casartelli in 1995 and in the early years one rider died while swimming in the ocean on a rest day.

The Vrs. guys would never have forgotten Fabio, since he was a teammate of Lance Armstrong.

2008. The Tour de France itself. Died of a drug overdose.

thats three in a row

The number goes up considerably if you count spectators, officials and moto drivers/cameramen.

There are at least 2 more. Fabio Casartelli in 1995 and in the early years one rider died while swimming in the ocean on a rest day.

The Vrs. guys would never have forgotten Fabio, since he was a teammate of Lance Armstrong.

I mentioned Fabio. Even posted a pic of his memorial. And the rider who drowned did not die racing.

A bit disappointed in this thread. I meant it as a tribute to those who lost their lives doing something they enjoy and we love to watch. Instead we get lame comments about the death of the TDF.

Word. The Tour is alive and well. I understand the frustration but the Tour is bigger than the riders who dope.

Michael

Is there a Cepeda memorial?

You guys forget about Kivelev? Jeez it was only a few years ago.
Largely responsible for the current version of the helmet rule.

Edit: Sorry, it was a crash in Paris-Nice leading up to the Tour and he was a Vino team-mate and this thread is about the Tour only.
Also there was an Italian guy, Galletti that died (Simpson type death) in a race in Spain.
And Isaac Galvez died in a 6-day.

Do explain.

Is there a Cepeda memorial?

Looked but could not find one.

Do explain.

I guess you mean me...
Amigo tuyo es el wiki:


In 2002 and 2003 Paris–Nice was won by Alexandre Vinokourov from Kazakhstan. During the latter race, Vinokourov's friend and countryman Andrei Kivilev died due to head injury sustained in an accident. His death prompted the UCI to mandate the use of helmets in all competition, except for the last part of a race with an uphill finish. Subsequently, the rule was changed to require helmets at all times.

Oh ok so it happend at P-N then. It just wasnt ringing a bell.
Thanks

"in the early years one rider died while swimming in the ocean on a rest day."

1910 Adolphe Helière died on a rest day around Nice.....turns out Red Wine and swimming don't mix

You guys forget about Kivelev? Jeez it was only a few years ago.
Largely responsible for the current version of the helmet rule.

Edit: Sorry, it was a crash in Paris-Nice leading up to the Tour and he was a Vino team-mate and this thread is about the Tour only.
Also there was an Italian guy, Galletti that died (Simpson type death) in a race in Spain.
And Isaac Galvez died in a 6-day.

Of course I can't any references now. In 1969 Eddy Merckx was riding in a motor paced track event when a rider he was lapping went down. I think both that rider and the driver of the motorbike pacing Eddy died. Merckx suffered serious injuries and was never quite the same afterwards. Oh and if I recall correctly Eddy may have been riding this mainly because if he rode such events all the prize money went up (pretty much doubled) and many other riders really needed the extra money.

Keith, you are right in the the derny driver did die and Merckx severely hurt his back. What's scary may be to imagine what he could have done in his career had he not been injured.

I'm wondering too if Wiki is erring a bit on the Casartelli details. They mentioned he "died on the scene" but I was remembering it as dying on the way to the hospital (in the helicopter?). This may be a small nit, I think I recall it from Liggett's commentary during the '95 Tour.

Someday I hope to visit these memorials, I'm sure it would be a moving experience.

"I'm wondering too if Wiki is erring a bit on the Casartelli details. They mentioned he "died on the scene" but I was remembering it as dying on the way to the hospital (in the helicopter?)."




He would have died instantly of massive head trauma,but everyone on site is committed to do thier best,because they do not have the authority to call things off.

Once in a helicopter,surrounded by medical personnel,and medical equipment(most times transmitting to a hospital) a decision can be made.

It's like in auto racing,drivers don't die on the track they die in a helicopter,or hospital.

Everyone wants to hope there is a chance, not that they have just seen someone die,so true circumstances are only released to the public later.

Keith, you are right in the the derny driver did die and Merckx severely hurt his back. What's scary may be to imagine what he could have done in his career had he not been injured.

Yes it is. During the height of the Lance is God times I was thinking of writing an article about a promising young Belgian rider that it seems few Americans have heard of. Saying only the truth, just leaving a bit out, e.g. just saying he won the Giro then the TDF the year after and then he suffered this accident that eventually would contribute to the ending of his career. Bet I could have done it in a way you and many would see it and others would wonder who this unknown Belgian was.

I'm wondering too if Wiki is erring a bit on the Casartelli details. They mentioned he "died on the scene" but I was remembering it as dying on the way to the hospital (in the helicopter?). This may be a small nit, I think I recall it from Liggett's commentary during the '95 Tour.

Someday I hope to visit these memorials, I'm sure it would be a moving experience.

Wiki is far from authoritative. I have the same recollection you do and also remember it confirmed in later reports and articles.

Look up Eddy Merckx and look at the bit on the white jersey. Depending on how you parse it out it is either misleading or flat out wrong.

http://home-1.tiscali.nl/~edwinsel/misc_monuments.htm

Only 2 deaths from crashing after all these years.

For how much they crash at the speeds they're going, that's pretty impressive

The OP named three. :rolleyes:

The OP named three. :rolleyes:


"from crashing" :rolleyes:

Touché.

The OP named three. :rolleyes:

Well I wouldn't call Tom Simpson's death as a result of crashing...more like a result of an overdose of amphetamines and then he just happened to fall off his bike on an uphill. Even I could survive that kind of fall, with or without a helmet. :bike2:

Edited: Ooops, I see someone already dissed you for it. :lol: Sorry. :D

Yeah, I didn't think heart failure was "crashing", but then again, doctors often refer to a patient "crashing" when they go into heart failure. Maybe that's the confusion? :rolleyes:

You are both right. But one could say that Simpson also died due to crashing while on speed. Not what I meant in my erroneous post, but ...

still, the ratio of crashes to deaths is pretty remarkable, no?

3 direct deaths out of 95 races x 180 riders x 2,000 miles on average.. Yea, I know the race probably hasn't always had 180 racers always but still using those figures. That would be close to 35 million miles of racing give or take a few million. I would say 3 dying isn't a high rate... it's still 3 too many though. You figure it be more considering all the crashes that have taken place.

not just all those guys doing all those miles, it's the way they ride those miles. I know they're skilled, but bumping in close quarters on the edge of mountains desperate to move ahead and going down at 30 - 40 - 50 mph taking out everyone around

You are both right. But one could say that Simpson also died due to crashing while on speed. Not what I meant in my erroneous post, but ...

Heh! We were just kickin' ya when you were down, you can return the favor any time. :D