Winning the Tour du Charolais et du Circuit des 4 Cantons in the colours of AG2R-La Mondiale earlier this year, but now Étienne Fabre (20) has lost his life in a fall while hiking.
French cycling has been rocked by the news that one of its up and coming riders has died in a hiking accident.
Étienne Fabre, a 20-year-old who had ridden for AG2R-La Mondiale as a stagiaire in the final months of the 2016 season was hiking in a group on a mountainous region in eastern France between Annecy and Chambéry when he lost his life.
The exact circumstances of the French junior and U23 international's accident were not clear, save to say he was hiking at the time rather than cycling.
Fabre’s father had a cycling accident last year and though he survived he was left paralysed, with his son's death now a double tragedy for the family.
Advertisement
News of the 20-year-old’s death was confirmed by local team Velo Club Rodez, which he had also started cycling with almost 10 years ago.
Related News
"Étienne Fabre was participating in a mountain hike with four friends in the Bauges Mountains,” the statement said.
“He and one of his companions suffered a fall, he did not survive and his friend is in serious condition.”
Fabre had joined the Club Rodez aged 11 years before progressing in his fledgling career and moving on to Chambery Cyclisme last year.
He quickly followed that move by gaining a trial place with WorldTour team AG2R-La Mondiale for the final part of the 2016 road season.
He secured a place on a trial basis in the pro peloton, with hopes of it becoming permanent in the next year or two, following strong winds in France.
He won the Tour du Charolais and the Tour du Charolais et du Circuit des 4 Cantons as well as taking a series of top placings in other French races.
He was 5th in the U23 French road race championships this season and with AG2R-La Mondiale then went on to ride a series of races from the start of August when his trial with the team began.
He rode Paris - Tours Elite (1.HC), Tour de Vendée (1.1), GP de Fourmies-La Voix du Nord (1.HC), Brussels Cycling Classic (1.HC) and Tour du Poitou Charentes (2.1).
Topics
