Will be fondly remembered by the cycling community
Earlier today crowds gathered at the Pabellón Municipal de los Deportes de Olot in Girona, Spain to pay their respects to Movistar rider Xavier Tondo, just two days after his tragic death. Amongst the attendees at the service were fans, friends, relatives, teammates and Spanish Cycling figures including Pedro Delgado, Joan Llaneras and Melcior Mauri, victor of the 1991 Vuelta a España.
Tondo was training at a ski resort in Pradollano, Sierra Nevada when he was tragically killed in a freak accident. He was heading out to do a training ride with teammate Benat Intxausti, when Tondo exited the vehicle and became trapped between his car and the garage door. He died from the injuries sustained.
His death came just two weeks after Wouter Weylandt (Leopard Trek) passed away following a horrific crash in stage three of the Giro d’Italia, and the loss of two of their colleagues, both known for being very good people, has left the peloton in shock.
Earlier this year Tondo helped police catch a doping ring in his home country of Spain. He bravely passed on information to authorities after an individual that tried to sell him banned doping products. His decision to “do the right thing” clearly demonstrated his character and love for the sport.
The service centered around Tondo’s life, and featured a moving video that showed highlights of his short, but successful career as he rose to the top level of cycling. There was an exhibition of Tondo’s jerseys from his previous teams and, when it was over, the crowds erupted in a tearful standing ovation to celebrate his memory.
Tondo’s family will hold a private ceremony for family members only this evening, where his body will be cremated.