Annafleur Kalvenhaar, a 20-year-old competitive mountain biker, has died after crashing off a wooden bridge while qualifying for the Downhill World Cup in the French Alps in Meribel.
The bridge had been navigated safely by riders all week until Kalvenhaar's accident on Friday, race officials told
Mpora.com. Kalvenhaar was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Greoble, France.
Mpora said the Dutch biker had competed in both cyclocross and cross country races and appeared to have bright future ahead of her.
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"I'm devastated to hear that the cycling family has lost one of its members at such a young age," International Cycling Union president Brian Cookson said in a statement,
according to The Associated Press. "Our deepest thoughts are with her family and friends."
Kalvenhaar's death cast a shadow over the event that brought together the best mountain bikers from all over the world. Josh Bryceland and Manon Carpenter won the elite men's and women's elite downhill titles at the UCI World Cup championships over the weekend,
according to British Cycling.org's combined times over two day of competition.
Bryceland, 24, managed to maintain his lead on the final day despite finishing second behind Australia's Sam Hill, according to British Cycling.org
Carpenter secured her title with a third place finish Saturday behind defending world champion Rachel Atherton. Carpenter's 1,360 points was 50 points better than Atherton, with Emmeline Ragot placing third with 1,300.
"It was more than I set out for at the start of the year so I'm really happy," Carpenter said on Red Bull TV, according to British Cycling.org. "I'm really looking forward to the world champs. The is amazing - one of the best tracks I've raced on - really like it, awesome place."
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