Cycling: It's sad news for cycling. Michael Goolaerts from the Veranda's Willems-Crelan team, who fell yesterday at Paris-Roubaix, died in hospital on Sunday evening.
Michael Goolaerts died of cardiac arrest
Paris-Roubaix is the most important and toughest one-day race in the world. But the “Hell of the North” was never supposed to be as terrible as it was for Michael Goolaerts yesterday. The Belgian fell on the second pavé sector. Only some time later, the doctors rushed to him and found that the 23-year-old had suffered a cardiac arrest. They had to revive him immediately on the spot. He was then flown to the Lille hospital in a rescue helicopter – but help came too late. Michael Goolaerts passed away just a few hours later in the presence of family and friends. The team Veranda's Willems-Crelan - for which, among other things, cross-country champion Wout van Aert drives - shared the sad news with the public late Sunday evening via Twitter.
“It is with unimaginable sadness that we have to announce the passing of our driver and friend Michael Goolaerts. He died at 22.40:XNUMX p.m. Sunday evening at Lille hospital, surrounded by family and friends. All the medical help didn't help. He died of cardiac arrest.”
He loved the one-day races
Michael Goolaerts was an ambitious professional who was still at the very beginning of his career. In 2013 he started his path in professional cycling when he was a trainee with the Continental Team Verandas Willems. For the following season, the Belgian team gave him a permanent contract. He then tried his hand at Lotto Soudal as a trainee, but stayed at Veranda's Willems-Crelan. The team gained new sponsors and rose to Pro Continental status. In 2016 he won the first stage of the Tour du Loir et Cher, his only race as a professional. Just a few weeks ago, he achieved a respectable ninth place finish in the Belgian one-day race Dwars to West-Vlaanderen. In general, Michael Goolaerts loved the tough one-day races in his home country of Belgium and the surrounding countries. He was considered a good time trialist and a very likeable colleague. Not only will his family and friends miss him - cycling has also lost a great rider and person.
— Veranda's Willems – Crelan Pro Cycling Team (@Snipercycling) 8 April 2018