Photo: Justin Setterfield/GettyA Belgian cyclist has died after a tragic crash at theTour de Pologne.Bjorg Lambrecht, 22, “had a moment of hesitation” and “left the asphalt” during Stage 3 of the race — about 30 miles from the starting point in Chorzow, Poland, and 60 from the end in Zabrze — when “the tragedy occurred,” the race’s director Czeslaw Lang told theBBC.“It wasn’t a high-speed descent. It was a straight and wide road,” Lang explained.Lambrecht had “injuries [that] were so serious that we called for a helicopter and an ambulance,” he added, sharing that the athlete “was transported to [the] hospital” for surgery.“His heart started beating again but he sadly died during the operation,” Lang said.Bjorg Lambrecht.ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/GettyTour de Pologne.Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via GettyLambrecht was an accomplished rider who, among his many achievements, took second place in 2017’s Tour de l’Avenir against Egan Bernal, a Colombian rider who won theTour de Francejust last month.He also placed second in the 2018 U23 World Championships, first in the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné’s young rider classification and more, including multiple first-place finishes since his 2015 Belgian national junior championship.Inan interview ahead of theseven-stage Polish race on Monday, Lambrecht said he was in high spirits and hoped to be in “good condition to make some good results here with the team, and for me.”The late athlete’s team, Lotto-Soudal, saidin a statement postedto their Twitter account, “The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened … Rest in peace Bjorg … ❤️”Bjorg Lambrecht.Luc Claessen/GettyRELATED VIDEO: Dutch Cyclist Injured in Crash During Olympic RaceMany of Lambrecht’s teammates and fellow competitors expressed their sadness over his tragic death on social media, including the race’s Stage 3 victor, Germany’sPascal Ackermann.“Today, the result of the race doesn’t matter,” said Ackermann, 25, on Instagram andin a statement shared tohis team’s Twitter feed. “I was devastated to hear today’s tragic news and I would like to personally send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bjorg Lambrecht and everyone at Lotto-Soudal.”Lambrecht’s team shared a letter to his fans on their website Tuesday, where they remembered the cyclist’s “playful determination,” “work ethic” and “humility” among his professional accomplishments.“All riders and staff of Lotto Soudal would sincerely like to thank everybody for their expressions of sympathy in the usually hard (top-level sports) world,” the letter concluded. “But in the first place,our thoughts go out to the parents, family and friends of Bjorg, who have to endure the greatest burden, a life without Bjorg.”
Photo: Justin Setterfield/Getty
A Belgian cyclist has died after a tragic crash at theTour de Pologne.Bjorg Lambrecht, 22, “had a moment of hesitation” and “left the asphalt” during Stage 3 of the race — about 30 miles from the starting point in Chorzow, Poland, and 60 from the end in Zabrze — when “the tragedy occurred,” the race’s director Czeslaw Lang told theBBC.“It wasn’t a high-speed descent. It was a straight and wide road,” Lang explained.Lambrecht had “injuries [that] were so serious that we called for a helicopter and an ambulance,” he added, sharing that the athlete “was transported to [the] hospital” for surgery.“His heart started beating again but he sadly died during the operation,” Lang said.Bjorg Lambrecht.ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/GettyTour de Pologne.Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via GettyLambrecht was an accomplished rider who, among his many achievements, took second place in 2017’s Tour de l’Avenir against Egan Bernal, a Colombian rider who won theTour de Francejust last month.He also placed second in the 2018 U23 World Championships, first in the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné’s young rider classification and more, including multiple first-place finishes since his 2015 Belgian national junior championship.Inan interview ahead of theseven-stage Polish race on Monday, Lambrecht said he was in high spirits and hoped to be in “good condition to make some good results here with the team, and for me.”The late athlete’s team, Lotto-Soudal, saidin a statement postedto their Twitter account, “The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened … Rest in peace Bjorg … ❤️”Bjorg Lambrecht.Luc Claessen/GettyRELATED VIDEO: Dutch Cyclist Injured in Crash During Olympic RaceMany of Lambrecht’s teammates and fellow competitors expressed their sadness over his tragic death on social media, including the race’s Stage 3 victor, Germany’sPascal Ackermann.“Today, the result of the race doesn’t matter,” said Ackermann, 25, on Instagram andin a statement shared tohis team’s Twitter feed. “I was devastated to hear today’s tragic news and I would like to personally send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bjorg Lambrecht and everyone at Lotto-Soudal.”Lambrecht’s team shared a letter to his fans on their website Tuesday, where they remembered the cyclist’s “playful determination,” “work ethic” and “humility” among his professional accomplishments.“All riders and staff of Lotto Soudal would sincerely like to thank everybody for their expressions of sympathy in the usually hard (top-level sports) world,” the letter concluded. “But in the first place,our thoughts go out to the parents, family and friends of Bjorg, who have to endure the greatest burden, a life without Bjorg.”
A Belgian cyclist has died after a tragic crash at theTour de Pologne.
Bjorg Lambrecht, 22, “had a moment of hesitation” and “left the asphalt” during Stage 3 of the race — about 30 miles from the starting point in Chorzow, Poland, and 60 from the end in Zabrze — when “the tragedy occurred,” the race’s director Czeslaw Lang told theBBC.
“It wasn’t a high-speed descent. It was a straight and wide road,” Lang explained.
Lambrecht had “injuries [that] were so serious that we called for a helicopter and an ambulance,” he added, sharing that the athlete “was transported to [the] hospital” for surgery.
“His heart started beating again but he sadly died during the operation,” Lang said.
Bjorg Lambrecht.ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP/Getty
Tour de Pologne.Dominika Zarzycka/NurPhoto via Getty
Lambrecht was an accomplished rider who, among his many achievements, took second place in 2017’s Tour de l’Avenir against Egan Bernal, a Colombian rider who won theTour de Francejust last month.
He also placed second in the 2018 U23 World Championships, first in the 2019 Critérium du Dauphiné’s young rider classification and more, including multiple first-place finishes since his 2015 Belgian national junior championship.
Inan interview ahead of theseven-stage Polish race on Monday, Lambrecht said he was in high spirits and hoped to be in “good condition to make some good results here with the team, and for me.”
The late athlete’s team, Lotto-Soudal, saidin a statement postedto their Twitter account, “The biggest tragedy possible that could happen to the family, friends and teammates of Bjorg has happened … Rest in peace Bjorg … ❤️”
Bjorg Lambrecht.Luc Claessen/Getty
RELATED VIDEO: Dutch Cyclist Injured in Crash During Olympic Race
Many of Lambrecht’s teammates and fellow competitors expressed their sadness over his tragic death on social media, including the race’s Stage 3 victor, Germany’sPascal Ackermann.
“Today, the result of the race doesn’t matter,” said Ackermann, 25, on Instagram andin a statement shared tohis team’s Twitter feed. “I was devastated to hear today’s tragic news and I would like to personally send my deepest condolences to the family and friends of Bjorg Lambrecht and everyone at Lotto-Soudal.”
Lambrecht’s team shared a letter to his fans on their website Tuesday, where they remembered the cyclist’s “playful determination,” “work ethic” and “humility” among his professional accomplishments.
“All riders and staff of Lotto Soudal would sincerely like to thank everybody for their expressions of sympathy in the usually hard (top-level sports) world,” the letter concluded. “But in the first place,our thoughts go out to the parents, family and friends of Bjorg, who have to endure the greatest burden, a life without Bjorg.”
source: people.com
