Belgian cyclist Niels De Vriendt has died at the age of 20. The amateur, who rode for the VDM-Van Durm-Michiels-Trawobo CT team, was taking part in a practice race ahead of the season restart when he collapsed.
De Vriendt was racing Wortegem-Petegem at the time, and quickly received medical attention after falling ill, including 40 minutes of resuscitation efforts, but passed away. The cause of De Vriendt’s death has been attributed to heart failure, according to his team.
The race was the first to take a position in Belgium since the COVID-19 pandemic that ended the cycling season in Europe and was organized through the mother of the motor force Alpecin-Fenix Tim Merlier.
They joined Belgian starting line champion Sep Vanmarcke (EF Pro Cycling) and duo Alpecin-Fenix by Otto Vergaerde and Jonas Rickaert. The race, which was 13 miles from the finish line, was cancelled.
De Vriendt’s posted a tribute message on Facebook on Saturday afternoon.
“The VDM-Trawobo cycling team is in mourning and has been hit by the death of our promising cyclist Niels De Vriendt,” the message reads.
“During the first race in Wortegem-Petegem, he suffered a fatal heart failure. The emergency services did everything they could to save Niels.
“The entire VDM family wishes strength to the affected family, riders and many friends of Niels. Rest in peace Niels. We will miss you.”
Cyclingnews extends its condolences to the friends of Niels De Vriendt, his circle of family and teammates.
Update: Wortegem-Petegem Mayor Luc Vander Meeren spoke this afternoon with Belgian television channel VTM (via Wielerflits), stating that there are no suspected cases around De Vriendt’s death and that there would be no autopsy unless his parents asked one.
“I heard the local runners say that De Vriendt had just fallen without any contact with a runner or a third party,” he said. “I’m afraid we’ll never find the genuine cause. Unfortunately for his parents, it will remain a mystery.”
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