Belgium - Professional Cyclist (23) Dies In Paris-Roubaix Race (Video)

A young Belgian cyclist died after heart failure arose when he fell during the Paris-Roubaix race. Michael Goolaerts, of the Crelan Pro Cycling Team, was only 23 years old. He fell during the race (falls are quite common in the Paris-Roubaix race which is driven for a large part on cobblestones) and suffered cardiac arrest afterwards.

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Young Mr Goolaerts was then transported to hospital via helicopter where emergency operations took place but doctors were unable to save him. He was pronounced dead yesterday evening local Belgian time.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/2kHQHXKBDG">pic.twitter.com/2kHQHXKBDG</a></p>&mdash; Veranda’s Willems - Crelan Pro Cycling Team (@Snipercycling) <a href="https://twitter.com/Snipercycling/status/983095274720649216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>

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"It is with unimaginable sadness that we have to communicate the passing of our rider and friend Michael Goolaerts," was posted on the team’s Twitter feed.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">So sad to see this young rider pass away. I saw this watching the replay at about 148km to go. Here is Michael Goolaerts on the side of the road alone as everyone rides right by. RIP young man 😢 <a href="https://twitter.com/Snipercycling?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Snipercycling</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisRoubaix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisRoubaix</a> <a href="https://t.co/R4alaDRn91">pic.twitter.com/R4alaDRn91</a></p>&mdash; Kelly R (@super_quads101) <a href="https://twitter.com/super_quads101/status/983337599464083456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 9, 2018</a></blockquote>

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His team said Mr Goolaerts died "in the presence of his family members and loved ones, who we keep in our thoughts".

Deaths in professional cycling do happen but are quite rare.

Paris-Roubaix, which is a cycling race known in Western Europe as the 'Hell of the North', is regarded by many as one of the toughest events on the calendar, featuring some 29 cobbled sections which are very inviting for falls.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Keep fighting, Michael Goolaerts <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ParisRoubaix2018?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ParisRoubaix2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PR18?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PR18</a> <a href="https://t.co/snY9V36Qw1">pic.twitter.com/snY9V36Qw1</a></p>&mdash; AsierEguino (@AsierEguino) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsierEguino/status/983044823589572609?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2018</a></blockquote>

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Many in the world of professional cycling were astonished that the race was not cancelled after it became known that Mr Goolaerts had suffered cardiac arrest.

The event itself was won by World-Champion rider Mr Peter Sagan.

Source:

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20180409_03453872