Iconic Tour de France commentator tragically dead at 52 following freak accident

Guillaume Di Grazia, one of the most recognisable voices in European cycling coverage, has died at the age of 52 following a tragic accident at a traditional bull-running event in southern France. The veteran Eurosport commentator passed away two days after sustaining serious injuries during an abrivado — a ritual native to the Camargue region in which bulls are herded through village streets by mounted riders.

The accident occurred on Sunday 6 October in the village of Langlade, just a day after Di Grazia’s 52nd birthday. His family confirmed his passing to AFP on Wednesday.

This marks the second fatal incident linked to an abrivado in just over a month. In early September, another man of the same age died after being struck by a bull, a horse, and a vehicle during a similar event.

To many French fans of professional cycling — especially those who grew up watching Eurosport’s coverage of the Tour de France — Guillaume Di Grazia was more than a commentator. He was a constant presence on the airwaves, his energy, humour and deep understanding of the sport earning him a place among the most recognisable and beloved figures in French cycling media.

Joining Eurosport in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics, Di Grazia quickly found his voice in front of the microphone and would go on to cover everything from Nordic combined to biathlon. But cycling was always his greatest passion — and his natural home.

His enthusiastic commentary, eloquence, and knack for storytelling made him a staple of Eurosport’s cycling broadcasts for more than two decades. He was as present on the Tour’s mountain stages as the fans waving flags on the roadside, and to many, he was as familiar a part of the summer spectacle as the peloton itself.

In a tribute published by TNT Sports — which now handles UK coverage previously managed by Eurosport — longtime colleague and former editorial director Géraldine Pons wrote: “Guillaume was instinctive, sensing things long before others did — trends, trajectories... This creative spirit, coupled with great professionalism, made him an extraordinary journalist.”

She credited him with transforming cycling analysis into entertainment, citing his work on Les Rois de la Pédale, which turned what could have been a simple post-race debrief into an iconic programme followed by legions of French fans. “His enthusiasm, style and passion behind the microphone left a lasting impression on cycling fans,” she added. “Sometimes, he was as popular as the riders on the roads of the Tour.”

Earlier this year, Di Grazia left Eurosport following internal allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” towards a make-up artist. As a result, he missed the Tour de France for the first time in 25 years — a noticeable absence that marked an unexpected and difficult close to his long career with the network.

Though the circumstances of his departure were regrettable, Eurosport has chosen to remember him for the immense contribution he made to the broadcaster and the sport.

Affectionately known by colleagues as “Guigui”, Di Grazia was a character as colourful off-screen as he was on it — famously passionate about his native Montpellier and his beloved football club, MHSC, often engaging in lively debates in the newsroom. But above all, he was deeply devoted to his family. Pons concluded her tribute by saying: “Guillaume loved sport and his job. He loved life and his friends, and above all, he cherished his daughter Marine and her mother.”

Guillaume Di Grazia’s sudden and tragic passing has left a deep void in the world of cycling journalism. For over two decades, he helped fans experience the sport not just through facts and results, but through stories, colour, and connection.

In a world of ever-changing commentary teams and production formats, his voice was a rare constant — one that defined an era of French cycling coverage.

He will be missed not only for the insight he brought to every race, but for the joy, character, and passion he shared with cycling fans around the world.