BOULDER, COLORADO: Magnus White, a 17-year-old cyclist who was considered a rising star of USA cycling, died after being struck by a vehicle while training for a ride near his home in Boulder, Colorado on Saturday, July 29. The teen was reportedly killed after being hit from behind by a 23-year-old woman who was driving a Toyota Matrix just after 12.30 pm.
White reportedly fell off the road with his bike due to the force of the collision and hit a fence where his bike came to a standstill, the Daily Mail reported. The teen, who was set to race at the upcoming world championships, succumbed to his injuries later. Colorado State Patrol said that speed and alcohol were not considered as the factors behind the accident. No details about the driver were released at the time of writing.
'A rising star in off-road cycling scene'
The news of White's death was announced in an official statement by USA Cycling. "It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share the news that 17-year-old Magnus White has passed away in a training accident," the post said. "On Sunday, July 30th, we received the news that National Team athlete Magnus White was struck by a car on a bike ride in his home of Boulder, Colorado. White was focused on his final preparations before leaving for Glasgow, Scotland to compete in the Junior Men’s Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships on August 10, 2023," it stated, detailing the accident that claimed White's life.
"White fell in love with cycling at an early age through Boulder Junior Cycling. He was a rising star in the off-road cycling scene and his passion for cycling was evident through his racing and camaraderie with his teammates and local community," the post continued. "He won the 2021 Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championships, then went on to compete with the USA Cycling National Team for a full season of European Cyclocross racing and closed out the year at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championship in Fayetteville, Arkansas," it added.
"He proudly represented the U.S. and the Boulder community at another Cyclocross World Championships in January of 2023 in Hoogerheide. The summer of 2023 marked a new chapter for White, where he earned a spot on the Mountain Bike World Championships team," the statement mentioned. "We offer our heartfelt condolences to the White family, his teammates, friends, and the Boulder community during this incredibly difficult time. We ride for Magnus," it concluded.
What is known about Magnus White?
White was a 17-year-old cyclist with the US Junior Men's National Team who was recently killed after being struck by a car while he was out on a training ride near his Colorado home. According to the Daily Mail, he was a "rising multidisciplinary star," who won the Junior 17-18 Cyclocross National Championships in 2021 and earned a place on the US national team.
The teen reportedly called the achievement a "pivotal moment" in his life as it provided him with opportunities to race in Europe. White competed with the USA Cycling National Team for a full season of European Cyclocross racing and ended the year by participating at the 2022 UCI Cyclocross World Championship in Arkansas. He was reportedly selected to represent the US again at the 2023 cyclocross worlds in the Netherlands and also earned a spot on the Mountain Bike World Championships team this summer.
White also began to take part in road cycling and mountain biking this season and focused on preparations before leaving for Glasgow to compete in the Junior Men's Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Championships on August 10. The cyclist was reportedly on one of his final training rides when the fatal accident occurred, weeks before he was about to start his senior year in high school.
