| Alessio Galletti (undated photo) |
The 37-year-old Italian was competing in the Subida Naranco race on Wednesday. He collapsed less than 15 kilometers from the finish line of the 162-kilometer race. At the time, he was at the back of the chasing pack (peloton) and was about to begin the next-to-last climb of the race.
It was reported that Galletti died of heart and lung failure, and that he had complained of chest pains earlier in the day. He was taken to a nearby hospital in Oviedo but was declared dead on arrival.
The race's chief press officer said that warm weather may have played a role. The forecast high temperature Wednesday in Oviedo was 24 degrees Celsius.
Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.