Venezuelan cyclist Nelsy Gálvez died on Saturday, October 17, 2026, after spending six days in the intensive care unit of Hospital Dr. Egor Nucete in San Carlos, Cojedes state, following a high-speed training crash. The 30-year-old athlete suffered severe internal contusions and politraumatisms when she lost control of her bicycle on a banked curve of the Velódromo Nelson Gálvez in Tinaquillo.
The Training Crash at Velódromo Nelson Gálvez
The accident occurred around 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 11, 2026, as Gálvez tested a bicycle belonging to her brother to check route conditions and adjust times during high-velocity trials. While driving the steeply banked or peraltado section of the outdoor track—a facility named in honor of her father—she lost control and crashed violently against the surface. Witnesses at the velodrome immediately arranged for an emergency ambulance transfer to a local medical center before paramedics rushed her to the state capital due to the severity of her injuries.
Upon arrival at the Hospital Central Dr. Egor Nucete in San Carlos, medical teams performed two emergency surgeries to stabilize her hemodynamically. She was subsequently admitted to the ICU under a guarded medical prognosis. Despite six days of specialized intervention and continuous monitoring by surgical teams, the internal trauma proved insurmountable, leading to her death on Saturday.
A Family Legacy in Venezuelan Cycling
Nelsy Gálvez belonged to a prominent cycling dynasty in the Cojedes plains. She was the daughter of Nelson Gálvez, a celebrated regional multicampaign cyclist widely known across Venezuelan roads as “La Maquinita”, who hails from the rural community of La Guamita in Tinaquillo. Maintaining the family tradition, the 30-year-old athlete was known throughout the local sports community for her rigorous discipline and dedication to cycling.
Regional sports federations, training companions, and athletes across multiple disciplines shared public messages of grief following the confirmation of her passing. The sports community in Cojedes entered a state of deep mourning following the loss, remembering her commitment to competitive cycling.
Autoridades No Mencionan Peligros Técnicos De La Pista
Mientras que los reportes de campo establecen que Gálvez realizaba prácticas a alta velocidad en el tramo peraltado del velódromo en Tinaquillo, las fuentes no mencionan declaraciones oficiales de autoridades deportivas o municipales sobre factores técnicos o peligros de la pista.
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