Michael Goolaerts died of a heart failure Sunday while the Belgian cyclist was participating in the tough Paris-Roubaix one-day classic road race in France for the first time, according to Agence France-Presse.
Goolaerts, 23, was found unconscious about 62 miles into the 160-mile course known as the "Hell of the North," AFP said.
"(Michael Goolaerts) suffered cardiorespiratory arrest. He was treated by the race medical team and transported by hospital to the CHU (Hospital Center Regional University) in Lille," a medical bulletin after the race said, according to CyclingNews.com.
He was airlifted to the hospital, located in northern France, where he died later in the day, AFP reported. The race is known to be particularly difficult as rides attempt to navigate the cobbles and muddy conditions, the news service said.
CyclingNews.com wrote that Goolaerts was in his second season with the Verandas Willems-Crelan cycling team and he was with the team for two additional seasons at the Continental level, from 2013 to 2014.
The website said he had raced a full schedule of Classics races this year, finishing in the top 10 at the Dwars door West-Vlaanderen race in March and 20th at both Driedaagse De Panne and Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne.
Verandas Willems-Crelan issued a statement on Twitter.
Other cyclists joined in the condolences.
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