Aged just 23 years, Michael Goolaerts was revived by the roadside with rapid medical intervention. But tragically it was not enough to save him.
Michael Goolaerts dies after Paris-Roubaix cardiac arrest
Pro cycling is in mourning after young Belgian rider Michael Goolaerts died following a cardiac arrest in Paris-Roubaix.
The Veranda’s Willems-Crelan rider came off his bike with just under 150km remaining in the race on Sunday.
He was unresponsive at the side of the road initially but was treated by a team of medics who resuscitated him.
The injured rider appeared to be moving. He was then taken by helicopter to hospital in Lille.
And though he was seriously ill it seemed the medical intervention by the roadside had saved him.
His team tweeted its congratulations to Peter Sagan (Bora-hansgrohe) on his victory at the end of the race, apparently unaware that its own rider was so critically ill.
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And the race organisers pressed ahead with the podium presentation, perhaps because it was not clear the 23-year-old’s life was in the balance.
Just after the crash Veranda’s Willems-Crelan confirmed the incident, saying Goolaerts had been forced to abandon the race and been taken to hospital.
However, it has been confirmed that he very sadly died from cardiac arrest.
"It is with great unimaginable sadness that we have to communicate the passing of our rider and friend Michael Goolaerts,” his team said in a statement.
“He passed away Sunday evening at 22:40 in Lille hospital in the presence of his family and loves ones who we keep in our thoughts.
“He died of cardiac arrest; all medical assistance was to no avail. For now there will be no further communication.
“We want to give his close ones time to deal with this terrible loss. We thank you in advance for respecting the privacy of his relatives."
UCI president David Lappartient said the world governing body shared the deceased rider’s team’s and family’s “immense sadness”.
"On behalf of the UCI and the cycling family as a whole, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, team and loved ones of Michael Goolaerts, who left too early,” he said.
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