Yesterday, Mauro Santambrogio send out a "Goodbye world" tweet that triggered several reactions and encouragement from fellow Twitter users and a call from RAI journalist Alessandra di Stefano. This morning the Italian sent out a tweet to thank for the encouragement that had led him to not go on with a suicide attempt.

Mauro Santambrogio has been ousted from the cycling world after the announcement of his positive test for EPO during this year's Giro d'Italia. Yesterday, the isolation almost led the former Vini Fantini rider to commit suicide.

In the evening, Santambrogio sent out a "Goodbye world" tweet that immediately triggered a reaction from Bicisport journalist Enzo Vicennati to which Santambrogio replied: “I can’t take it anymore.”

RAI journalist Alessandra di Stefano was quick to react and tried - unsuccessfully - to contact Santambrogio by phone and finally got a response by text. At the same time, Santambrogio received several Twitter messages with support and good wishes that encouraged him to not do any harm on himself.

After a couple of hours, Santambrogio tweeted: “I have to do it and I will do it to win this race. Thank you.”

This morning he elaborated on the mistake he was about to make.

“I closed my eyes, I thought about everything I almost did an idiotic thing and I think I would have solved nothing at all, but only brought so much suffering to those around me and who love me. I thank you all for helping me to reflect and saving me," he tweeted.

Santambrogio won a stage and finished 9th overall in the Giro but it was later revealed that he had tested positive for EPO. He was sacked by his Vini Fantini team but requested an analysis of the B sample whose results hasn't been announced. However, a September report in Gazzetta dello Sport suggested  that the B-sample analysis showed a lower level of EPO traces than is necessary to conclusively prove doping. If that’s the case, it would clear Santambrogio and he would be free to race again.