Tijl De Decker, the talented young Belgian cyclist who won Paris-Roubaix U23 in April, has died as the result of a serious auto accident in the small town of Lier, near Antwerp.

On Wednesday the 22 year-old collided with a car while training and was transported to Antwerp University Hospital, where he was placed in a medically induced coma. Unfortunately, the young Belgian star never recovered from the trauma.

“It is with great sadness that we have to announce the passing of our rider Tijl De Decker,” the Belgian team said in a press release on Friday. “Today Tijl has lost his battle to recover from the severe injuries he sustained after his crash on training last Wednesday.”

It is not known if De Decker was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and police are still investigating the incident.

De Decker had joined the Lotto Dstny developmental team this year and was planning to move up to the team’s UCI Pro Tour squad for 2024. In April he claimed the biggest result of his young career, winning the Paris-Roubaix U23 race with a stunning solo move. Though, in June his youth and immaturity got the best of him when he was disqualified, along with 30 other riders, from the U23 Giro d’Italia for holding on to a team car to reach the top of the famous Stelvio climb in the Italian Alps.

“We are devastated by the loss of our cyclist,” Lotto Dstny CEO Stéphane Heulot said. “Tijl showed big progression this year and we believed in his growth margin. Stepping up to the pro team was a logical choice. Unfortunately he will never turn pro and we will always remember him as a talented young rider and a warm and friendly person off the bike.”

De Decker is the third young cycling star to die in the last 30 days. Italian Jacobo Venzo died as the result of a race crash in Austria, while American Magnus White was killed in an auto accident while preparing for the UCI World Championships.

Photo Credit: Lotto Dstny

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