The tragic event occurred at the halfway point of the day, which linked the towns of Langa de Duero and the demanding finish in the Laguna Negra de Vinuesa, in the province of Soria. What should have been a climbing cycling party ended in tragedy.
The organization of the race confirmed the death through an official statement issued on Saturday afternoon, in which they expressed their deepest condolences to the family, teammates and friends of the rider whose identity was not yet revealed. Later on, it was learned that this was the Spaniard Iván Meléndez Luque.
According to the information provided, the accident occurred shortly after the cyclists had crossed the N-234 road, at the entrance to the natural site of El Amogable. It was at this point that a massive fall affected several riders in the peloton.
The seriousness of the situation forced a rapid intervention of the health services, although unfortunately it was not enough to save the cyclist's life.
A day to never forget in youth cycling
Initially, the stage was neutralized, as the temporary absence of ambulances made it impossible to guarantee the safety of the participants. Subsequently, due to the impossibility of resuming the race with the proper medical support, the organization decided to suspend the stage completely. The peloton, now grouped together, moved in a controlled manner to the town of Vinuesa, where the finish was scheduled.
The tragic accident has generated a deep shock in the world of junior cycling. The Vuelta Ciclista Junior a la Ribera del Duero, which celebrates its ninth edition in 2025, is a recognized event in the youth calendar, conceived as a development platform for emerging talents.
A brief memorial will be held on Sunday morning in honor of the young life that has been lost today. The third and final stage of the race from Pedrosa de Duero to Aranda de Duero will be cancelled afterwards.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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