Mourning in the cycling world: Simone Roganti dies at 21

A sudden illness, a heart that stops and the race of the paramedics to try to revive him. This is how Simone Roganti, the young rider of MG Kvis – Colors for Peace, died. He turned 21 on August 25th and still had many kilometers to ride on his bicycle, but last night around 10:30 pm his heart gave out. The young man was in his home in Spoltore, in the province of Pescara, together with his parents who immediately called for help but there was nothing that could be done for Simone.

The Pescara Prosecutor’s Office has opened a case to investigate the athlete’s death. Prosecutor Luca Sciarretta has ordered an autopsy of the runner to understand the cause of death.

CHOC

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While waiting for the autopsy, Spoltore is in shock: many people knew Simone and there are dozens of boys from the town who have dedicated themselves to cycling over the years. Rolando Roganti himself, Simone’s father, had raced when he was young and Danilo Di Luca, winner of the Giro d’Italia in 2007, was also born in Spoltore, then struck off for doping in 2013. “An investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office and an autopsy? I’m happy. In a tragic moment like this we need to understand”, explains Angelo Baldini, the president of the amateur team, astonished. In two months, Baldini says, Simone had only done 4 races and had also been in the national team at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta. “So I assume he had done all the checks, all the necessary tests. We are a team that since the beginning of the year had only won two races because we don’t think about exasperating our guys, but about bringing them to professionalism. In fact, Simone had told me in a message that he had signed just last Monday with a Dutch team. And I was very happy”.

THE MEMORY

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Simone Roganti was remembered with many messages on social media. He was well-liked by everyone in the environment. “I wish I could find the right words – his nutritionist and friend Chiara Doni remembers him – to be able to fix the memory of the athlete and the wonderful boy I knew. Seeing you grow day after day personally and professionally with the humility, patience and dedication that distinguished you gave me so much. Thank you Simone, for the privilege you gave me by giving me your trust and your friendship. Having seen you embrace your dream with the awareness of your possibilities made me happy. I will continue to dream for you, carrying you in my heart”.