Shocking news: Italian pro rider attacked by aggressive motorcyclists during training in Italy: "Got punched in the face"

Cycling and traffic remains a dangerous combination. Recently, reports of cyclists being hit by vehicles have become more frequent, often resulting in injuries or even fatalities. Additionally, aggressive behavior from motorists toward cyclists is on the rise. Italian rider Luca Colnaghi, who rides for VF Group Bardiani, experienced this firsthand. He shared his shocking story with Tuttobiciweb.

On Wednesday afternoon, like many other professional riders, Colnaghi was out training. But on his way home, things took a disturbing turn. "It was so absurd that if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was a scene from a movie. But yesterday, while riding with my brother Andrea between Lierna and Varenna, we unfortunately encountered a man on a motorcycle who was looking for trouble."

"He pulled up beside me and started insulting me. Then he cut me off, stopping his motorcycle right in front of me and forcing me to stop," Colnaghi continued. "When I looked him straight in the eyes, we tried to calm him down and told him we didn’t want any trouble. But he attacked me and grabbed me by the neck. Fortunately, my brother and I were able to hold him off and send him away."

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Luca Colnaghi

Colnaghi attacked for the second time

After making it home safely, Colnaghi decided to return to the scene because he had forgotten his earbuds—a decision that would prove costly. "I went back to look for my earbuds and made the mistake of showing up alone. Unfortunately, the man—who was apparently already known to the police—returned, this time with another foreigner on a motorcycle. First, they clipped me, making me fall. When I tried to run away, the passenger picked up a rock from the road and threw it at my rear wheel."

"Not satisfied, they came at me with their motorcycle and blocked my path," Colnaghi continued. "I was already injured, but as if that wasn’t enough, both of them jumped off the bike, grabbed me from behind, and punched me in the face. When I finally managed to break free, my father had fortunately already alerted the police, as I hadn’t been able to call for help myself."

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Italian riders' union stands up for Colnaghi

Fortunately, Colnaghi is receiving a wave of support. The Italian Riders’ Union has vowed to assist him in ensuring that the attackers face severe consequences. "Luca’s attackers will have to answer for serious crimes after the investigative procedures we have requested through the complaint. We hope the Public Prosecutor’s Office will take strict action to guarantee Luca’s safety and that of all cyclists in the area, protecting them from these dangerous individuals."

Despite this support, the mental toll on the 26-year-old Bardiani rider is significant. "I was deeply saddened to see that, despite my desperate pleas for help, not a single driver stopped. I’ve been training on these roads since I was a child. Today, cycling is my profession—I wear a very recognizable jersey, and there’s a high chance I might encounter these people again. I just hope they won’t hurt me or anyone else again."

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