This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht made his professional debut in 2018 and tragically died in hospital on August 5, 2019, at the age of 22 after crashing at the Tour of Poland.
According to Polish news website Onet, Lambrecht collided with a concrete structure around 30 kilometres into the race after it suddenly began to rain.
He was resuscitated on the spot and taken to a hospital in the southern city of Rybnik, where he died on the operating table.
"It wasn't a high-speed descent. It was a straight and wide road. He had a moment of hesitation, he left the asphalt and the tragedy occurred," said race director Czeslaw Lang.
"The injuries were so serious that we called for a helicopter and an ambulance. He was transported to hospital. His heart started beating again but he sadly died" during the operation, Lang said, quoted by PAP agency.
German cyclist Pascal Ackermann paid tribute to Lambrecht, saying, "Today, the result of the race doesn't matter. 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."
