“I will never forget her, she was the only sister I had “ - Brother of Sara Piffer emotionally calls for increased safety for cyclists

The cycling world has been left in mourning following the tragic death of 19-year-old Italian cyclist Sara Piffer, who lost her life after a collision with a car on Friday morning.

According to Tuttobiciweb, Piffer was cycling with her brother Christian, an amateur cyclist, when the pair were struck by a car overtaking another vehicle. While Christian sustained only minor injuries, Sara was severely injured. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, efforts to resuscitate her were in vain.

Christian Piffer shared his heartbreak with Corriere del Trentino, reflecting on the close bond he shared with his sister. “(She was) always sunny and smiling. Always close, when you asked her something she was always there. I will never forget her, she was the only sister I had, she was always so close to me. She loved me so much. She was passionate about cycling and when we had time she was always happy to train with me, she wanted to stay behind me.”

Piffer's death comes during a period in which the safety of cyclists is under added pressure, due to the deaths of riders such as Gino Mader and Muriel Furrer over the last two seasons.

Christian recounted their final moments together before the accident. “We were training together and just a few moments before she said to me: 'Now, after an hour of training I have to do a climb of two or three kilometres. Come on, let's go up to Fai della Paganella'. We were happy, we were going towards the climb and then it happened.”

In the wake of the tragedy, Christian called for greater caution on the roads, stressing the need for drivers to be more aware. “The message I want to give is that caution on the roads must be greater, because lately it is less and less. There is always too much hurry because maybe you have an appointment and for that reason you don't look where you are going. You only think: 'I'm late, I have to go to that appointment'."