Tijl De Decker, the young Belgian cyclist who won U23 Paris-Roubaix earlier this year, has died from injuries he sustained in a training crash on Wednesday. The Lotto-Dstny Development rider, who would have turned 22-years-old today, had been in critical condition since the accident.
Lotto-Dstny said he had hit the back of a vehicle, though exactly how the crash happened was not immediately clear.
“We are devastated by the loss of our cyclist”, says team chief executive Stéphane Heulot. “Tijl showed big progression this year and we believed in his growth margin. Stepping up to the pro team was a logical choice.
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"Unfortunately he will never turn pro and we will always remember him as a talented young rider and a warm and friendly person off the bike. We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.”
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The team said he "crashed hard into the back of a car and was brought to the hospital in Lier" where he immediately underwent surgery. He was on Wednesday evening transferred to Antwerp University Hospital, where he lost his battle for survival.
"Tijl joined our Lotto Dstny Development Team this year and he showed immediately a lot of determination and passion for his sport," the team added in its statement, saying he would have stepped up to its pro team next season.
"He impressed with a stage win in the Tour de Taiwan and places of honour in the U23 races Rutland-Melton Cicle Classic (2nd) and Eschborn-Frankfurt U23 (4th) and he won Paris-Roubaix U21."
