Amateur cyclist Daniel Gianello (OVERALL TRE COLLI CYCLING TEAM) was hit head-on at high speed by a motorcyclist who crossed the road centerline while trying to pass a car in the mountains outside Lugano, Italy.

The 21 year-old Italian was training with teammate Nicolò Ponti, who was fortunately unharmed, when the crash occurred on Wednesday afternoon 17 July. The impact was so violent it broke Gianello’s bike in half and threw the young rider to the ground head first.

Gianello’s life-threatening injuries required immediate transport by medical helicopter to hospital in Lugano, where emergency doctors rushed to treat cerebral edema as well as back and leg fractures. He is currently in a medically induced coma as friends, family and teammates keep watch.  

Massimo Subbrero, team director for Overall Tre Colli, posted on Facebook, “We were with Daniel an hour, he is in an induced deep sleep and is struggling to survive. The next ones 48/72 hours will be decisive, then we will see the consequences. Unfortunately – the situation is much worse than we thought.”

In April Gianello qualified for the 2024 UCI Gravel World Championships at Giro Sardegna Gravel, while he also earned a bronzer medal at the 2023 Italian Gravel Championships. Most recently on 6 July he finished 3rd at GP Comune di Castellucchio – Trofeo Erboristeria La Felce, a 175km road race just outside Verona.

Photo Credit: Facebook/OverallCyclingTeam

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