Anti-climax: Iranian cyclist dies after crash
An Iranian Para-cyclist has died after a crash during the men's C4-5 road race at the Rio Paralympics.
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The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) announced that Bahman Golbarnezhad, 48, suffered cardiac arrest after the incident on a “mountainous stretch” of circuit.
According to the IPC, Golbarnezhad was involved in a crash at around 10:35 local time on the first section of the Grumari loop, a mountainous stretch of the course, on a curved descent.
He received treatment at the scene and was in the process of being taken to the athlete hospital when he suffered cardiac arrest.
“The ambulance then diverted to the nearby Unimed Rio Hospital in Barra where he passed away soon after arrival,” a statement added.
Golbarnezhad also competed at the London Paralympics in 2012.
An investigation into the circumstances of the accident has been launched.
“We’re looking to gather as much information as we can and as quickly as possible — it should take a matter of days,” said Piers Jones, sports director of cycling’s governing body UCI.
The Iranian flag has been lowered to half-mast in the Paralympic Village and a period of silence was observed during last night’s closing ceremony.
Masoud Ashrafi, the secretary general of Iran's National Paralympic Committee, said it had requested the body of Golbarnezhad be flown to Iran on Sunday. The Committee also asked for a full report of the incident from the IPC.
Ashrafi added: “He had been cycling for 12 years and he was our best cyclist. He was married and has a wife and one son.
Golbarnezhad’s death is the first in competition at a summer Olympics or Paralympics since Danish cyclist Knud Enemark Jensen in the 100km team time trial at the 1960 Rome Olympics.
Last Saturday’s race began at Pontal and included the Grumari circuit used in the Rio Olympics road races.
The Vista Chinesa circuit, which included a treacherous descent where Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands crashed and sustained concussion during the Olympics, was not part of the Paralympic course.