Belgian cycling has suffered a tragic loss. Milan Bral, a 21-year-old with the Dovy Keukens-FCC amateur team, died on Saturday after being struck by a car during a training ride near Ronse, in the Flemish Ardennes.
The collision occurred at approximately 13:15 at an intersection in Ronse. Bral was immediately transported in critical condition to Ghent University Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries at around 22:30. The incident took place at the junction of Kruisstraat and Zandstraat, where a vehicle travelling through traffic lights struck the young rider near the well-known Hotondberg climb.
Authorities confirmed that neither Bral nor the driver tested positive for alcohol or drugs. An independent road traffic expert has been appointed to determine the exact circumstances of the crash.
As a U23 rider, Bral had recorded several top-ten finishes this season and placed 16th at the Belgian U23 National Championships road race last year. He was the nephew of former professional Sep Vanmarcke and came from a deeply rooted cycling family — his brother claimed a race win earlier this year, and his father Dimitri was a former competitive rider.
His team released a statement: “Milan was more than a rider — a wonderful person and a valued team-mate. He will be greatly missed and will forever remain part of our team.”
Bral’s death comes just days after that of former UAE Team Emirates rider Cristian Camilo Muñoz, marking a second devastating loss for the sport within a single week.
Photo Credit: Instagram/milan_bral
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