We receive and gladly publish the letter sent to our editorial office by Debora Gatti, aunt and mother of cyclists, as well as a councilor of the Lombardy Regional Committee. It is a reflection on safety, in light of the tragedy that cost Sara Piffer her life.

Dear Editor,

As you well know, yesterday morning a 19-year-old girl, Sara Piffer, was killed. She is neither from Lecco nor Lombardy, but it doesn't matter. It is an immense pain.

Yesterday, the father of an Under23 boy from Lecco wrote to me, "For us who have children training on the roads, these news take our breath away". Journalists have a duty to inform, and through their information they can influence public opinion. A cycling publication yesterday had this headline: "Hit by a car". From a journalist who talks about cycling daily, this is not acceptable. The Michele Scarponi Foundation, instead, indicates the truth without mincing words: killed by a man.

Sara was killed by a man driving his car while overtaking another car. The reflection that should be highlighted is precisely this: cars are extremely dangerous weapons in our hands. The use of these "weapons" can decide the fate of a human life: whether a cyclist or a pedestrian. They can make all the laws in the world, but true change starts from the habits of each of us and the way we report information.

Sara is no longer here. Sadness overwhelms me. Rebellin's death made headlines everywhere. Of all the others, nothing is ever heard except locally or within the cycling world. Today Sara Piffer, Matteo Lorenzi in 2024 (a 17-year-old junior from Trentino), Silvia Piccini (17 years old) in 2021. These are some of the young people involved in competitive sports, then there are all the others: amateurs or simple cyclists.

There are also kids walking on sidewalks who are killed by those driving cars or motorcycles in a crazy and reckless manner. It is a cultural issue that especially in Italy still does not exist. Excuse my outburst, but this topic is too close to my heart. I have a son and a niece who are on the road every day. Like all parents, we try to exorcise it somehow, but then you hear about Sara and your blood runs cold...

Cordially,

Debora Gatti