Italian racer Luca Colnaghi has been left nursing a dislocated collarbone and microfracture to his rib after he used to be attacked by means of a couple of motorcyclists whilst out coaching on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old, who’s in his fourth season with VF Workforce-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè, used to be out coaching together with his brother Andrea close to Lake Como in Northern Italy when the pair had been cornered by means of a motorcyclist.
Talking to Tuttobiciweb, Colnaghi stated that the motorcyclist pressured the pair to prevent sooner than pushing him to the bottom and attacking him.
“Unfortunately, on our way, we came across a guy on a motorbike looking for trouble. He flanked me, insulted me, and put his bike sideways to force me to stop,” Colnaghi stated.
“When I came face to face with him, we tried to calm him down, to tell him to stop, that we had no desire to fight, but he pushed me and made me fall.
“He attacked me, grabbing me by means of the neck. Fortunately, my brother and I controlled to prevent him and make him depart. He attempted to intimidate us by means of going again the mistaken approach as though he used to be going to crash into us head-on, however that appeared to be the tip of it.”
Colnaghi, who began his 2025 season with four one-day races in Spain, said that he later returned to the scene of the attack having realised that his earphones had fallen from his jersey pocket.
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“I made the error of returning to the scene by myself,” he said, before describing the second attack, in which the first motorcyclist was accompanied by another.
“The biker, who I later came upon used to be already identified to police, returned with some other on a motorbike. First, they grazed me to make me fall after which, when I used to be working away, the opposite one picked up a rock from the street and threw it at my again wheel,” Colnaghi stated.
“Now not content material with that, they got here at me with the bike, blockading me in opposition to the quick wall together with the street that separated the street from the lake. I used to be already harm from the affect, however as though that wasn’t sufficient, the 2 left the motorbike to snatch me from in the back of and punch me within the face.”
Colnaghi’s father arrived on the scene shortly after, having been alerted by an alarm on his bike computer. The emergency services and Carabinieri also arrived, though Colnaghi said he was upset that no motorists had stopped to intervene or help.
“I used to be very saddened to search out that, in spite of my blatant pleas for lend a hand, no motorist stopped,” Colnaghi said. “Best an beginner bicycle owner who witnessed the scene, when I used to be within the ambulance, introduced to be my witness. I have been coaching on those roads since I used to be a kid and these days biking is my task.
“I wear a recognisable uniform and the likelihood of finding these characters is a foregone conclusion. I go out on my bike with ’25 more eyes open’, but I hope they never do anything bad to me or anyone else again. I believe in justice, and I hope the authorities will do their duty, otherwise, how is one to defend oneself in Italy?”
Colnaghi controlled to take a photograph of the motorcyclist’s quantity plates all the way through the assaults. He has requested for the help of the ACCPI (Italian rider’s union) and has filed a criticism with the Carabinieri. Zerosbatti, a criminal company specialising in helping cyclists, will constitute Colnaghi.
“Luca Colnaghi’s attackers, as a result of the investigations we requested via the lawsuit, will have to answer for serious offences such as wilful injury, assault, threats – with aggravating circumstances,” stated legal professional Federico Balconi.
“We hope that the public prosecutor’s office will rigorously carry out all the necessary activities to guarantee Luca and all cyclists in the area safety and protection from these dangerous individuals.”
Colnaghi suffered a dislocated shoulder within the assault, additionally struggling a rib microfracture. He is been instructed to take a 10-day spoil from racing however he is heading to Belgium this weekend with the GP Criquelion and GP Monseré on his upcoming agenda.
“VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè expresses its support and solidarity with Luca Colnaghi, who was the victim of a serious assault while returning home after a training session,” the Italian workforce stated in a observation launched following the assault.
“Colnaghi suffered a dislocated shoulder and a microfracture to his ribs, with a prognosis of 10 days of rest. Despite this, his fighting spirit drives him to honor his sporting commitments in Belgium next weekend at the GP Criquielion and GP Monseré, races he is determined to participate in.”
