What should have been a celebration of amateur cycling turned to Belgian heartbreak on Saturday as the We Ride Flanders sportive was struck by tragedy for the second consecutive year. A 51-year-old British man died after suffering what is believed to have been a cardiac arrest near the Hotond climb outside Ronse. He had been riding with his son.
Event organiser Gert Van Goolen confirmed to Radio 1 that a medical team reached the rider quickly and attempted resuscitation, but that the man passed away at the scene.
“This is the last thing you want as an organisation,” Van Goolen said. “You hope that 14,000 people can have a nice day and you know there are risks, but you really don’t want this.”
The incident was not isolated. Two further cardiac medical emergencies occurred during the day: a 57-year-old Dutch rider was resuscitated during the event, and a second British participant collapsed on the Oude Kwaremont and was taken to hospital. Their conditions have not been publicly confirmed.
The We Ride Flanders event offers distances from 79 to 247 kilometres, drawing 14,000 amateur cyclists from across the globe who come to tackle the same legendary bergs and cobbled sectors as the professionals — one day before the pros race.
Tragically, this is not the first time the sportive has been overshadowed by loss. Two riders died during the 2025 edition, including 45-year-old former Cofidis professional Stéphane Krafft.
The deaths raise difficult questions about medical screening and participant preparedness at mass-participation cycling events.
Our thoughts are with the families of all those affected.
Photo Credit: Facebook/rondevanvlaanderen
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