Johan Vansummeren wins Paris-Roubaix; he has now been forced to retire with heart problems, the latest in a growing number.
Best remembered for winning Paris-Roubaix, Johan Vansummeren has been forced to retire from the sport due to ongoing heart problems.
He is the latest rider, in what appears to be an increasing number, to be diagnosed with cardiac problems while still racing.
Australian Michael Rogers was earlier this season forced out of the sport due to heart problems when under contract with the Tinkoff team.
Daan Myngheer suffered a heart attack at the Criterium International in March and young Dutch rider Gijs Verdick died in the Under-23 Carpathian Couriers Race in Poland in May.
Another Dutchman, Robert Gesink (LottoNL Jumbo) has also had heart problems of late, though he has been able to continue racing.
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Others to suffer cardiac issues in recent times include Niels Albert, Nick Nuyens, Klaas Lodewyck and Oliver Kaisen.
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Vansummeren was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat during health checks performed on all pro riders pre season.
It was initially believed he could continue racing and he rode the Tour of Qatar at the start of the season.
But when the heart monitor he was wearing to track his condition showed irregularities at the Tour of Oman he was forced out of that race.
And the lanky Ag2r La Mondiale rider has not raced since then. He confirmed his retirement at a press conference today in his home town of Lommel in Belgium.
"I am really sad to stop my career because of medical reasons but my health is more important than cycling ambitions,” Vansummeren said today.
“Over the last few months I have done many medical tests. Two surgical interventions put a name on my health issue. From now, my state of health requires repeated health checks and forced me to end career.”
In his 16th career as a pro, Vansummeren won Paris-Roubaix in 2011.
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