Exactly two weeks ago, Wouter Weylandt passed away on a Giro descent. This morning, Movistar's Xavier Tondo lost his life in a domestic accident.
Xavier Tondo Volpini passed away this morning, after that his garage door fell on him while he was preparing for a training ride together with his friend Intxausti.I had to stop twice while reading this news on Cyclingnews because I couldn't realise what I was reading. My eyes were watching the words, but my brain couldn't understand them. 'Xavier Tondo died this morning'. Unbelievable. Dying in such a terrible way, when you're just 32, really makes no sense.
Xavier was a great rider, one of the best climbers of the world and one of the most honest guys in the peloton. He became a hero in December, when he told the Spanish police about a group of people who sold doping products.
Right now I really can't believe that Xavier has really died. I'm shocked, sad and confused and I'm waiting for someone to come and tell me that this is just a joke. Not again, not two weeks after Wouter, not Xavier.
Unfortunately, no one will come - Movistar's manager has confirmed the news and the riders are already paying their tribute to their colleague.
I feel useless, powerless and I can't find the right words for this tragedy. Moreover, I cannot understand why those things can happen. And I cannot understand how our destiny can be so cruel.
Now I'd really like to send all my strength and support to Xavier's family, to his teammates, to his friends and to his supporters. Once again, the cycling family has to face another terrible loss and grief again all together.
Descansa en paz, Xavier. We will all miss you terribly. May you stay close to all the ones that loved you and support them in this awful moment. Once again, DEP.
It's just unbelievable indeed.. 2 weeks after Wouter.. When my sister told me I thought it was a joke, of course it wasn't. And such a horrible accident.. with a garage door, how cruel and such bad luck :'(
RispondiEliminaMy heart goes out to Xavi's family, friends, teammates, colleagues.. another loss for the cyling world, it should really stop right now :( I wanted to write something for Ride On! but I don't know what to say.. I don't want to write all these memoriams :(
PS: We always seem to pick the same photo as you ;) We put up a nice photo of Xavi on our blog and then I came here and saw you had the same one :-) Now, that also happened with Wouter.. quite a coincidence ;) I guess we both picked out the best photo that represents the riders best.
How utterly sad. My heart feels so heavy right now. It seems so senseless. RIP.
RispondiEliminaBrenda
He was such a good guy! So unfair :(
RispondiEliminaFirst time I read it, I thought he was killed by a car or something during training and I was getting really pissed at cars and so on, but then I read about the garagedoor and I my mouth fell open. WTF?! That's so cruel, so weird that it can just happen, like that, BAM, and he's gone :O
At first the thought of how the hell did that happen with a garage door occupied me, but I'm slowly starting to realise that this is about a great rider who passed away. May he rest in peace...
Blogger doesn't let me answer your comments with my Google account, here I go anyway...
RispondiElimina@ Marleen: When I got the news, I really couldn't believe it. And I didn't even want to inform my dad, who really liked Xavier. In the end, my sister did it for me, whereas I told my mum just at 7 pm. It was such a shock for everyone! :(
I thought we should write something also on 'Bananas', but I really don't feel like writing another sad post... I've written so many depressing things in the last 2 weeks!
The photo coincidence is very strange,
In moments like this I want to remember the riders at their best, so I usually choose pictures in which they smile and in which they wear a cycling kit.
@ Brenda: You're right, dear. This is just senseless and unfair.
It really makes me sick to think about Xavier's death. Last year he rode his first Giro and was 6th in the Vuelta, this year he was going to ride the Tour for the first time and he had recently fallen in love again with his former wife. And now, everything (dreams, projects, hopes...) is over just because of a stupid coincidence. It is so unjust!!! :'(
@ Mar: The way Xavier died isn't very clear :(
According to Gazzetta, Tondo was driving backwards in his garage and with him, on the passenger seat of the car, there was Intxausti. Xavier put in the 'backwards' gear, tried to open the garage door (probably by using something similar to a tv commander), but he didn't succeed. So he got off the car to open the garage door with the keys, but he forgot to 'take out' the backwards gear. So the car went backwards and he got struck between the door next to the driver's seat (which was open) and the garage door (which was still closed). He received a large cut on his throat and died immediately. A really horrible death :'(
Poor Benoit Intxausti was with Xavier when the accident occurred and he immediately tried to move the car. But still, it was already too late. I wonder how he must feel right now, he and all the other people who knew and loved Tondo. They need so much strength now! :(
I just hope that Xavier didn't realise what was going on and I hope that he didn't suffer in his last seconds of life. Fate was cruel enough with him, it would make me even sadder to know that he realised what was going on...
Fede
Fede, thank you for telling me about this: I've been avoiding the cycling press while I am so behind with watching the footage, and I wouldn't have heard if you hadn't kindly told me.
RispondiEliminaBlogger won't let me in to my blog at all tonight (oh dear, now I've broken Blogger) so I shall just add my sadness to that already expressed.
Tondo was one of my "pet" cyclists: I was rooting for him last year as he was so brave, and then of course in December he was promoted to Hero for squealing on the dopers. Yay, Tondo! It's so sad that he's been killed in this way.
As always, our thoughts go to the family and friends, and like you, I hope that he didn't suffer.
Coug
Coug, I decided to tell you because I knew you really liked Xavier. As you said, he was one of your 'pet' cyclists.
RispondiEliminaThis is a very sad news and I really admire Movistar for having the strength of going on racing in the Giro in spite of what has happened. Hopefully the guys will manage to win a stage in the weekend, so that they can dedicate it to their unlucky teammate.
on behalf of the family of Xavier, thank you for your words of support. Pilar Tondo
RispondiEliminaWords can't do much when you have to face the loss of a person you loved, but sometimes they can help people to feel less lonely. Hopefully my words managed to convey all my support to you and to all the familiars and friends of Xavier.
RispondiEliminaAlthough I didn't know him in person, Xavier used to come across not just as a very talented cyclist, but also as a very sweet, honest and caring man - and it's also because of this that I liked him.
I had to face the loss of my aunt (who was 48 year old) a few months ago and, at the time, it just felt absurd to lose her because of a stupid cancer, especially because she was still very young.
But still, I think there is nothing worse than what happened to Xavier and to you, his familiars and friends. Facing such a terrible and unexpected loss must be so awful!
As I said, I didn't even know Xavier in person, but in spite of that I still can't realise that he really passed away - therefore I can just imagine how hard it must be for you to carry on living without him.
I take this chance to renew my deepest condolences to you and to all the other people who knew and loved Xavier. Moreover, I wish you once again all the strength of the world:
stay strong - and may Xavier stay close to you and his other loved ones in these days of sorrow.
With deepest sympathies and respect, I send you all a big hug.
Yours sincerely,
Federica D.
Thanks for sharing this with all us. I'm Xavier's sister. I was 16 when he passed away and it was so hard to me and all our family. I was really close to him and he was always taking care of me. When things went wrong he was the one that was always remembering me it would be all ok..
RispondiEliminaHe was such a nice brother, friend and also a nice rider. I couldn't read things like this last year but now I can do it and it really helps me. Thanks.