A post that I would have never wanted to write.Wouter Weylandt passed away a few minutes ago after crashing with 25 kms to go on the Reggio Emilia-Rapallo stage of the Giro. The ambulance arrived immediately after the crash, but they couldn't save him.
I had never supported a rider as much as today. Unfortunately, Wouter lost his most important race.
I don't feel like writing anything else right now. I'd just be able to say stupid clichés. Moreover, I've just started crying and sobbing like a baby - and I'm not good at writing when I'm feeling so bad. Cycling is like a family and right now I feel like I've lost a relative.
My thoughts go to Wouter's family, his parents, his wife, his teammates and his friends. My most sincere condolences go to them.
Rest in peace, Wouter: we'll keep you in our thoughts forever and ever. And this is a promise.
Couldn't have said it any better. We all need to grief now, even though we didn't know him in person, we sort of did thanks to the internet and tv. It's just... There are no words to describe this. We need time to process this unfair, cruel death..
RispondiEliminaI'm crying too right now. This is above words...
RispondiEliminaI saw the crash today, but I couldn't stay with my TV for long enough to hear who it was or how bad it was... I just found all of this out...
May he rest in peace... My heart goes out to his family, especially his wife and their unborn baby...
This is so sad. I got home and wanted to find out who won today.. had to read the headline multiple times.. could not believe it. Only 26 years old and his girlfriend pregnant.. it's not fair. I've been reading reactions all evening..
RispondiEliminaTyler Farrar, who was a close friend: http://t.co/YZ43Qkm
Pedro Horrillo wrote a very moving column in El País: http://bit.ly/mmnpnZ
Kai Reus and Steven de Jongh were in Holland Sport (Dutch tv show) to react on the news.. very moving. Kai Reus (who survived a terrible crash in 2007 and faced a very long recovery) was very shocked and Steven had to cry when he heard the news: http://beta.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1101511 (in Dutch)
Wouter, may you rest in peace. We will never forget you! My heart goes out to his family, friends and colleagues..
Thank you Fede, just for sharing your feelings, and to you other girls too. I am so upset, more so than I would ever have thought. I am actually finding it extremely difficult to sit at my desk today at work and not burst into tears.
RispondiEliminaRIP Wouter <3
x Leela
I was going to bed and for some reason thought I'd just check the Giro on TV- the crash had just happened and listening to Dave Harmon it sounded bad. Sean Kelly was more upbeat.
RispondiEliminaI checked the internet and it came up on youtube. I opened it thinking it was just the crash itself- expected that it just showed a rider going down.
It was the horrific image of Wouter on the ground. It was apparent this was not going to be a good outcome. Twitter was full of reports of CPR. defibrillators/ adrenaline and atropine. I was encouraged when some tweets were saying -helicopter off to hospital and weak pulse. Then few minutes later it was the worst news....I didn't know him. I didn't even follow him. Just used to read his twitter now and then and remember at the LT presntation that he reminded me of Stuey O'Grady- ginger hair and a cheeky face.
I was and am devasted. I couldn't stop crying and checking internet -that surely there had been a mistake and he was fine. Cyclists don't die anymore. Look how bad Jens crash in the TDF was and everyone thought the worst and he was okay. Why -we are all always joking about Frankie and his crashes? He had a terrible crash over a rail and into ravine and was fine. I've laughed at the collections of crahes they show on the t.v. All good fun- minor injuries and such.
I can barely concentrate today and have a very heavy heart. My husband thinks I'm silly!
RIP Wouter Weylandt. I can't imagine the pain your family and friends are going through. Mostly I grieve for your partner and unborn child. I hope they all get some strength from the fact that all fans of cycling are grieving with you.
Jen
I came home late yesterday and had no idea what had happened before I read it on twitter. Then I started shaking. And I'm still shaking. It's so surreal, it just shouldn't have happened. Lots of strenght to friends and family.
RispondiEliminaI'm going shopping today with my best friend but I just want to stay at home, watch today's stage and be free to cry. I really feel sick.
I couldn't believe it when I woke up this morning and saw the news headlines. I was, and am, so shocked and saddened. I feel teary just thinking about his partner and child, who never got the chance the meet his/her father. It's heartbreaking. A
RispondiEliminaI didn't know Wouter in person, but I do remember his victory in the Giro, exactly one year ago.
RispondiEliminaHe came across as a lively young boy, 'full of life', as Millar said this morning, 'one of those people that you think will never die'. And instead, here we are, mourning his loss.
I remember that on that day, in the post-stage euphoria, he said 'This is fucking amazing' in the official interview with the Italian tv. His laugh was contagious and the journalists immediately forgave him.
Now, thinking that Wouter isn't in the peloton anymore just makes me feel sick.
In this moment, I'm thinking about his family. About his parents, about his wife, about his unborn daughter who will never have a memory of how her father used to talk, walk or laugh.
Sometimes we complain for little things, but these are tragedies that put everything into perspective.
I'm also thinking about Wouter's friends, teammates and supporters.
I'm thinking about Fabian Wegmann, his roommate; I'm thinking about Tyler Farrar, who'll leave the race this evening because he's too shocked to continue; I'm thinking about the LT mechanic who yesterday looked simply destroyed as he opened the bus door; and I'm thinking about the poor Frederiek Nolf.
Sometimes people say that cycling is like a family. On occasions like this, you understand that this is not a stupid cliché.
Now I really hope that Wouter's loved ones will all have the strength to continue their lives. The pain will never disappear and it will take them years to go back to a 'normal' life. I wish them all the strength of this world because they're really going to need it.
I'm not a believer, but at times like this I really hope there's a God for us somewhere.
Rest in peace, Wouter, and be close to those who need you - now more than ever.
Couldn't have said it better Fede..
RispondiEliminaGrief is such a powerfully draining thing, I just hope Wouter's fiance can muster the strength, and courage, to bring their baby to term, which is really the only tangible thing left of him in this world. I'm a tennis-person at heart, so I'm not used to fatalities in sport. I'm just overawed that it's even possible for a 26 year old, with his life still opening up before him, to just simply cease to be. He seems to have been so full of life, and if there's anything to be derived from this, it's an exhortation to live one's own life with the same sense of purpose, and exuberance. I didn't know him, but I know I'll think of him the next time I mope ungratefully about being alive, or the words "life sucks" escapes my lips, and I'll be reminded that I'm lucky to still be in this life, and on this mortal coil, to fight it out for better days.
RispondiEliminaI hope everyone is alright. I realise it's easy to lose faith when senseless, awful things happen, but I am praying for everyone here.
--figbash
I can't add more words to what you all already wrote.
RispondiEliminaRIP Wouter and may your child be sure that his/her father was deeply loved by many and that many could tell a lot of stories about him that would make a child so proud.
I m still watchin' the video I took last monday..He passed in front of me with the peloton and I was so happy!! this happened at 14.00 pm .immages run on my camera...and where there' s speed ,there's life! ...some days passed but I can't still believe!on my camera I own one of the last moments of life and happiness.I can't accept it!I can't stop crying watching the images...happy not to be alone!cycling-word is a family...happy to know not to be the only one destroyed even if I didn' t know him..
RispondiEliminaAnonimo, I can't imagine how hard it must be for you to think about Wouter. Seeing him a few hours before he passed away must have been so terrible!
RispondiEliminaYesterday I came across some images of last week TTT and I couldn't help thinking that, exactly one week ago, our big friendly giant was still in the peloton. This thought made me sick. A boy of 25 should never die in such a tragic way, a few months before becoming father!
However, life must go on even without Wouter. What happened on Monday was a big shock for everyone, but unfortunately no one can change the past. All we can do now is to help Wouter's family in every possible way and to remember him forever and ever.
As you say, luckily cycling is a big family and in moments like this we can see our feelings (our same pain, our same sadness, our same problems) reflected into other's people. I think this is one of the best thing about this sport: in it, no one will ever walk alone.
Stay strong, Anonimo: that's the only advice I can give you right now. Time can heal even the worst wounds, but it is a very long process. In the meanwhile, try to remember Wouter with a smile: he was a very lively boy with an outgoing personality and I'm sure he'd prefer to be remembered for his ability on the bike rather than for his tragic death.
I wish you a lot of strength and I send you a very big hug!!