Moments of great fear at the Giro d'Italia during the 16th stage with arrival in San Valentino. The rider Alessio Martinelli was the protagonist of a dramatic fall that saw him slide into a ravine during the descent from the second category GPM of Carbonare.

The accident occurred about 110 km from the finish , when Martinelli was part of a breakaway of 24 riders, including his teammate Luca Covili. On a left-hand bend in the town of Valsorda, made particularly treacherous by the rain, the VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizanè rider lost control of his bike and slipped on the wet asphalt.

After crossing the roadway, Martinelli narrowly avoided the protective barriers but fell into the ravine below . Fortunately, some trees cushioned the fall, which was estimated to be between 10 and 15 meters deep.

Both the ambulance and the Alpine rescue team intervened immediately on the spot. The team later communicated that the runner, promptly transported to the hospital, was conscious.