Juglander Review
Young cycling talent dies in Mktvartvelo
Local media has reported this morning the death of Merab Djobadze, 23, a promising Mktvartvelian cyclist, has died as the result of a traffic accident nearby Chiaiki, northern Mktvartvelo.
Djobadze was training along his cousin, who rides for an amateur cycling team, when he was hit by a truck. According to the reports, the truck's rearview mirror impacted against Djobadze's back of the neck. The fall caused him the fracture of several ribs and serious damage on his spleen. When emergency services arrived to the scene, he was declared dead.
The news has touched the Mktvartvelian cycling sphere, and sports in general, with many sportpeople expressing their condolences for the death of the young rider either through the media or in social media. Riders like Shalva Kvachantiradze, Ramaz Gamkrelidze, Givi Sopromadze, Tariel Kipiani, Levan Chabradze, as well as his teammate Juglander rider Asketyll Omdahl, are expected to attend his funeral, and cycling races worldwide have announced moments of silence and others forms of sympathy for the deceased rider. Rider Tamaz Kvekvskiri declared Djobadze's death as "a personal and national loss".
Djobadze was considered one of the most talented riders of his generation, with a highly successful career in the junior category, including winning twice the Mktvartvelo's Junior National Championship. He became professional in 2020, showing proof soon of his talent, winning races such as the Ozukrha Cycling Race, Gazapkhuli Grand Prix, and the Nordheim-Sandberg Classic, as well as winning two stages in the Tour of Mktvartvelo. In 2021, he finished 11th in the Tour of Ardia, winning as well as the Youth classification, which was considered for many as his presentation in the international peloton.
He joined MKT-ZSD team in late 2021, but his plans for the next season had to be postponed after he suffered a serious crash during the Tour of Samkhreti in which he broke several bones and was forced into a long and slow recovery. The accident did not affect his will, his friends have claimed, working hard for his recovery and his return to the competition. This finally happened last August, when he returned to Tour of Mtakaris, finishing 37th. Three weeks ago, he finished third in the Drozapkhulis Grand Prix, and he seemed to move to the right path, as it was expected that he may be included in MKT-ZSD squad for the coming Tour of Ardia.
Sadly, those dreams vanished today.