Italian cyclist Kevin Bonaldo dies aged 25, a month after falling ill at Piccola Sanremo

The young cyclist received immediate medical attention from event staff after finishing the national race and was subsequently admitted to the intensive care unit at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza.

Despite showing encouraging signs of recovery in the weeks following the incident, Bonaldo’s condition deteriorated overnight. He passed away this morning, surrounded by his family.

Bonaldo had established himself as a respected figure in Italian continental cycling over the past five years, primarily making his mark in national competitions. This season had seen the 25-year-old expand his racing programme and achieve notable results, including top-10 finishes in UCI 2.2-classified stage races such as Belgrade–Banjaluka and Dookoła Mazowsza.

Kevin’s brother, in a statement on behalf of the family, said: “I want to thank everyone who supported and encouraged us during this month. Kevin felt all that encouragement and, until the end, he fought every day to recover. A very special thank you to all the doctors and staff at San Bortolo Hospital in Vicenza, to the team that accompanied us, and to everyone who sent even a thought to Kevin.”

His team also released a statement: “SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank is devastated to announce that this morning, after a month in which he bravely fought between life and death, Kevin Bonaldo passed away. Our organisation would like to express its closeness to Kevin’s family and all his loved ones,” said Galdino Peruzzo, President of SC Padovani Polo Cherry Bank.

Rest in peace, Kevin. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and team.