- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Davide Cimolai (source FDJ).JPGFDJ pro’s safety plea after driver knocks him off bike in Italy
FDJ rider Davide Cimolai has appealed to drivers to “respect the rules of the road” that he was knocked off his bike by a motorist while training near his home in Pordenone, north east Italy.
The incident comes after a number of high-profile deaths of bike riders in road traffic collisions in Italy, including those of pro cyclist Michele Scarponi in April and former MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden this month.
> MotoGP ace Nicky Hayden dies five days after cycling crash
Cimolai, aged 27, thankfully suffered nothing worse than bumps and bruises in his incident, reports La Gazzetta dello Sport.
He said: "I’d just left home. A car had the left indicator on to park. I passed it on the right and the driver suddenly turned in the opposite direction to the arrow.
“It hit me, I found myself on the ground and then I wasn’t aware of anything. I have some bumps and bruises all over my body, but luckily nothing’s broken.
“I didn’t have to go to hospital. It could have been worse, even if my bike was completely destroyed.”
Referring to those recent deaths, he said: “It’s a terrible period.
“This time, it was due to inattention. In the car was a couple who got out, terrified – they knew they’d made a mistake.”
On Sunday evening, he posted a video appeal on Twitter for drivers to “respect the rules of the road,” adding, “today I was really lucky!”
Cimolai insisted however that his injuries would not change his racing programme.
“I won’t miss training days,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport. Tomorrow morning, I will wake up full of aches and pains but I will be able to pedal.
Luckily I can take part in the Dauphiné , which starts next Sunday.
“Then I will be at the Tour de France working for [Arnaud] Demare.”
Between those two races, he also plans to challenge for the Italian national road championship, which he believes this year has a course that suits him.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- Randonnuer 1 sec ago
If you kill someone with a motor vehicle and are found guilty surely at a minimum as well as a ban you should have to complete an extended retest...
- Rendel Harris 3 min 15 sec ago
By no means claiming that Armstrong was the only doper in that period but your claim makes no sense: the average speed is taken on the time of the...
- Russell Gray 21 min 9 sec ago
Close passing and rank bad driving have almost become the norm, to the point where I expect it and it doesn't shock me. What does shock me are the...
- HoarseMann 26 min 37 sec ago
Furious residents claim they have been blocked in their driveways after a council installed 'ridiculous' cycling wands along a new bike lane....
- kingleo 26 min 55 sec ago
So why did they not make the bridge wider, one side for cyclists and the other for pedestrians with a partition in between?
- wtjs 32 min 5 sec ago
I suffered a close pass by a BMW driver 2 or 3 years ago. 10 yards later he was stopped by temporary lights. It's all on video: there's no swearing...
- ManicDrummer 1 hour 21 min ago
Electromagnetic pedals you say? Call the witch finder general!
- slc 1 hour 38 min ago
I lived in Swansea before and after the new tracks were installed, and cycled along the Mayals Rd a couple of times each week. I'm sorry to say...
- OldRidgeback 1 hour 39 min ago
Ok, so now the trial has proven successful and useful it should be introduced on a compulsory basis for all driving instructors surely?
- Pot00000000 1 hour 55 min ago
If a chain fell between the spokes and the cassette, it's a set up issue not the feckin chain 🙄
Add new comment
3 comments
Michelle Scarponi, Nicky Heusen now this fella, though luckily for him a far better outcome. High profile incidents in Italy. Makes you wonder. And to be honest a couple of things I saw in the Giro reinforced the Italalian somewhat shambolic approach to life.
It seems like too many incidents in such a short period of time.
Drivers seem to be getting worse, or perhaps I'm driving a lot more?
Road casualty rates have been improving over the last few decades in Europe. The peak for road fatalities was in the 1970s. That said, there has been a notable halt to the safety gains over time in the last 2-3 years. This is thought to be mainly due to the increase in driver distraction from cellphone use.