Michael Goolaerts of Verandas Willems-Crelan has passed away at the age of 23 following a cardiac arrest at the 2018 Paris-Roubaix.
The young rider crashed on sector 28 of Briastre with 150km remaining in the race. Passing TV motorbikes caught an image of the rider lying unconscious on the ground with seemingly no other riders downed in the crash.
After immediate medical attention at the scene, Goolaerts was airlifted to hospital in Lille for urgent treatment. His team later confirmed that the rider had died on Sunday evening surrounded by his friends and family.
The team's press release commented that despite urgent attention 'all medical assistance was to no avail,'
It then continued, 'For now there will be no further communication as we want to give his close ones time to deal with this terrible loss.'
The Belgian was currently racing in his second season as a professional. Goolaerts had ridden as a trainee for the Veranda's Willems-Crelan team in 2013 and 2014 before completing a season as a stagiare with the Lotto-Soudal team.
It is yet unknown whether Goolaerts sustained the cardiac arrest due to the crash or crashed due to the cardiac arrest.
Cyclist extends its deepest condolences to the family and friends of Michael Goolaerts and the riders and staff at Verandas Willems-Crelan.