A beacon of passion and determination. His legacy on the cycling trails is only surpassed by the impressions he left in our hearts
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.