Tributes have been made after the death of Spanish junior rider Iv\u00e1n Mel\u00e9ndez Luque, following a crash on the second stage of the Vuelta Ribera de Duero.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old died from his injuries after being involved in an incident along with around 20 other riders as the race approached the small village of El Amogable in Soria. Attempts were made to revive Mel\u00e9ndez Luque at the scene and in the ambulance on the way to hospital, according to reports by several Spanish media. His death was confirmed by local officials on Saturday evening.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The stage was immediately suspended and the following day\u2019s racing also cancelled following the incident. A short memorial was held on Sunday at the planned stage finish in Aranda.<\/p>\n You may like<\/p>\n Mel\u00e9ndez Luque was from the town of Colmenar near M\u00e1laga. He raced for the Tenerife-Cabberty U19 team and was a late replacement at the Vuelta Ribera de Duero following an injury to one of his teammates. Local reports say that two other riders were taken to Santa B\u00e1rbara Hospital in Soria and being treated for injuries.<\/p>\n Race organisers released a statement on X<\/a> at the time saying: \u201cThe Vueltan Ribera suspends all activities due to the passing of a rider.<\/p>\n \u201cWe send all our love and support to the family, friends, and teammates of the athlete. Tomorrow, at 10:30 AM, we will gather in the Plaza de la Hispanidad in Aranda to pay tribute to them.”<\/p>\n The Tenerife-Cabberty team issued a statement, saying: \u201cThe entire team is devastated by the news. We appreciate all the support and affection we are receiving from all levels of cycling on such a difficult day. Our thoughts are with Iv\u00e1n\u2019s family, friends and loved ones at this terrible time.\u201d<\/p>\n A minute\u2019s silence was observed at the start of the second stage of the Vuelta a Espa\u00f1a in Alba on Sunday.<\/p>\n UCI President David Lappartient added his condolences in a short statement on X<\/a>: \u201cI am deeply saddened by the passing of Iv\u00e1n Mel\u00e9ndez Luque, who tragically lost his life today during the <\/a>Vuelta Ribera in Spain. My thoughts are with his loved ones and with all who are mourning his loss within the cycling community.\u201d<\/p>\n The Spanish Cycling Federation said: “We deeply regret his passing and wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. Rest in peace.”<\/p>\n This is the third incident involving a crash and death of a rider in a European UCI race in the past 12 months. Previously Swiss junior Muriel Furrer<\/a> died after a crash at the 2024 UCI Road World Championships in Z\u00fcrich last September and more recently Hagens Berman-Jayco rider Samuel Privitera<\/a> died after a crash on the opening stage of the Giro della Valle d’Aosta last month.<\/p>\n Everyone at Cyclingnews would like to extend their deepest condolences to Iv\u00e1n Mel\u00e9ndez Luque’s family, friends and teammates. <\/p>\n La @VueltaRibera suspende todas las actividades por el fallecimiento de un corredor.Enviamos todo nuestro cari\u00f1o y apoyo a los familiares, amigos y compa\u00f1eros del deportista.Ma\u00f1ana, a las 10:30 h, nos reuniremos en la plaza de la Hispanidad de Aranda a rendirle homenaje pic.twitter.com\/MSzo7QHY31August 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n