Police on the Balaeric island of Ibiza have arrested a British-expat in the death of 49-year-old amateur cyclist Bernat Ribas on Wednesday 28 June.

Ribas (Club Esportiu Masters Team) was on an evening training ride when an off-road Jeep Wrangler vehicle drove into him head-on, did not stop to render aid and then fled. Although emergency medical staff arrived quickly, Ribas did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Police discovered the Jeep abandoned five kilometers from the crash scene. Forensic evidence found on the vehicle confirmed it likely hit and killed Ribas. The vehicle also helped police identify a suspect – Scott Devenney, 35, from Glasgow, Scotland. The Jeep was adorned with the logo from a local restaurant, “Down to Earth”, which is co-owned by Devenney. Before police could track down Devenney, he turned himself in for arrest. Police now also allege Devenney killed Ribas while driving without a license.

A long-time and successful competitive amateur cyclist, Ribas was crowned champion of the famed Vuelta Ibiza International MTB 3-day race in the masters 40-49 team category last year. In addition he finished 14th in his age category at the Vuelta Cicloturista Ibiza road event.

The organizer of both events, Juanjo Planells, has announced recent bib numbers worn by Ribas will be permanently retired to honor the fallen rider.

“We are outraged, hurt and dismayed by what happened. [We] want to convey our maximum condemnation of this atrocity; in the 2023 edition we will keep a minute of silence in memory of Bernat, a beloved member of the Club Esportiu Masters Team. In addition, we are going to withdraw the numbers with which he participated in the last editions of both the Vuelta Ibiza MTB Scott by Shimano -dorsal 273- and the Vuelta Cicloturista Ibiza Campagnolo -dorsal 437,” Juanjo Planells said.

Everyone in the close-knit cycling community on the island was shocked by the tragedy.

“I have known Bernat since he was 15 years old. The tightening of convictions for this type of act is essential so that it does not happen again; if nothing is done about it, we will experience similar, horrible situations again. It is inconceivable that someone runs over and kills a person, leaves him abandoned and leaves: it is an inhuman act and must be condemned in another way. We are devastated because all of us and our friends move by bicycle, we work so that people get to know Ibiza by bicycle and the bicycle is part of our lives. We are especially affected, impacted, broken,” longtime friend Maria Pratts said through tears of sadness.

Photo Credit: Solarpix

© 2019-2023 All Rights Reserved Gran Fondo Daily News