Young Belgian cyclist De Decker dies after training crash

First-year professional cyclist Tijl De Decker, winner of the Paris-Roubaix under-21 race in May, died at the age of 22 on Friday following a training accident, his team, Lotto-Dstny, announced.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Tijl De Decker, following his training accident on Wednesday," the team wrote on social media. "The team is heartbroken by this news."

De Decker collided with the rear of a car during a training ride. He was taken to hospital in Antwerp where he underwent surgery. Later he was placed in an induced coma.

He had signed a professional contract with Lotto-Dstny at the beginning of July.

"We were convinced of Tijl's potential," said the Belgian team's French manager Stephane Heulot.

"His move to the pros was a logical evolution. Unfortunately, we'll never get there. We'll remember Tijl as a warm and gentle boy."

In August 2019, another 22-year-old Belgian with the Lotto team, sprinter Bjorg Lambrecht, died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the Tour of Poland.

Swiss rider Gino Maeder, of Bahrain Victorious, died in June after a crash on a mountain descent in the Tour of Switzerland.