Italian cycling mourns death of former junior World Champion Crescenzo D'Amore

There’s sad news for cycling fans coming out of Italy, as Tuttobiciweb have reported that Crescenzo D'Amore, a former junior world champion cyclist from Italy, was found dead in his car over the weekend. The cause of death remains unknown, and authorities have initiated an investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his passing.

Born on April 2, 1979, in Naples, D'Amore began cycling at a young age and quickly emerged as a promising sprinter. His career peaked in 1997 when he clinched the junior world title in San Sebastián, triumphing in a peloton sprint against competitors like Switzerland's Martin Bolt and Estonia's Markus Salumets.

Following his junior success, D'Amore spent two years as an amateur before turning professional with the Mapei-QuickStep team, the origins of Soudal - Quick-Step. Despite his early promise, D'Amore struggled to make a significant impact in the professional ranks. He subsequently joined smaller Italian teams, including Cage Maglierie-Olmo, Tenax, Acqua & Sapone, and OTC Doors-Lauretana. In 2011, he made a brief return to professional cycling with Androni Giocattoli, but this comeback did not yield notable results.

Throughout his professional career, D'Amore secured only one victory: a stage win at the 2004 Settimana Internazionale Coppi e Bartali. He also achieved podium finishes in stages of the Giro d'Italia in 2003 and 2004.

The Italian cycling community mourns the loss of D'Amore, remembering him for his early achievements and contributions to the sport. As investigations continue into the circumstances of his death, fans and fellow athletes reflect on his career and the sad news of his passing.