Cyclist Weylandt dies after Tour of Italy crash

Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was pronounced dead Monday following a horrific crash on the third stage of the Giro d'Italia, according to RAI television. "His heart has stopped beating," announced RAI's head of sport Auro Bulbarelli. Weylandt, 26, was left bloodied and unconscious and requiring a cardiac massage after a crash which occurred on the descent of the Bocco mountain pass around 25km from the finish line. Race officials later claimed his left pedal got stuck in a wall at the side of the road, forcing Weylandt to tumble around 60 metres to the ground below. He received emergency medical treatment by race doctors and was scheduled to be airlifted to hospital but had to wait as an emergency helicopter looked for a suitable landing spot. Weylandt, who spent the bulk of his career with the Belgian team Quick Step after becoming professional in 2006, won the third stage of the race last year, in Middelburg (Netherlands).