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VIDEO: Michele Scarponi's Macaw Frankie is Back! 

Frankie the Macaw is Back! Michele Scarponi's best friend spent some quality training time with Luis Angel Mate

Only days after finishing fourth overall in the Tour of the Alps where he won a stage, the tragic death of the 37-year-old rider, Michele Scarponi, who was due to lead the team into the Giro d'Italia was announced earlier this year. 

One of the best stage racers in the world, Scarponi’s greatest victory came in 2011 when he won the Giro d’Italia overall having won many stages in previous years. He finished fourth in the Giro d’Italia on three other occassions, with victories in Tirreno-Adriatico in 2009 and the Volta a Catalunya and Giro del Trentino in 2011.

Aftre his death, In heartbreaking news, Scarponi's macaw, Frankie, was seen sitting alone on a sign at the crossroads where the tragedy took place, where tributes were being laid, clearly missing his training partner.

Valverde donated his 2017 Liege-Bastogne-Liege prize money to the Scarponi family. Valverde said before the race that he would donate the prize money should he win, and in an emotional interview said he would dedicate his winnings from the whole week to the Scarponi family after winning 2017 Fleche Wallonne too.

But in a recent update, Frankie is seen back out training with Luis Angel Mate who rides for Team Cofidis.

Here's to seeing more of Frankie, the most famous Macaw in the world! Bellisimo! Caio!