On Friday, August 26, two cyclists were killed on the slopes of the Col de l’Assiette, cycling’s great classic, between the upper valleys of Susa and Pragelato, not far from the French border.

Around 2 pm, a car passenger found two lifeless bodies near their electric-assisted bicycle in the pouring rain. The witness called 911. Despite the bad weather, the helicopter managed to land nearby, and rescuers tried to revive the victims but were unsuccessful. The dead bodies were taken to the valley.

According to An expert quoting the daily RepublicUsing an electrically assisted bicycle in stormy weather is dangerous: the battery increases the risk of lightning strikes.

Alberto Balocco, one of the two victims, is a well-known entrepreneur: he ran the family business, created in 1927, which now has 550 employees, and which in particular produces panettones. He was with a friend, David Vigo, a Turinese living in Luxembourg.