Cycling mourns death of 23-year-old Michael Goolaerts

Belgian cyclist Michael Goolaerts died of heart failure during the gruelling Paris-Roubaix one-day classic race in France

Goolaerts was found unconscious and not breathing at the side of the road on Sunday, after racing along one of the course's famous cobbled sections. 

The incident was captured on video, social media and relayed to race officials who rushed to his aid.

Doctors were unable to revive him at the scene and he was flown to hospital in the northern city of Lille where he died of "cardiac arrest" surrounded by his family, his Veranda's Willems team said.

Goolaerts was seen failing to negotiate a curve and shooting into a grassy bank at high speed.

It was not immediately clear if he suffered the heart attack before the crash. No other rider was  involved.

The incident happened at around the 100-kilometre mark of the 257-kilometre race.

"It is with unimaginable sadness that we have to communicate the passing of our rider and friend Michael Goolaerts," his team said, "He died of cardiac arrest, all medical assistance was to no avail."

His loss was felt especially keenly in Belgium, where cycling is "in mourning".

David Lappartient, president of the UCI, said: "I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family, team and friends of Michael Goolaerts, who left us too early today. We share their immense sadness."

The organisers of the Tour de France, who own the Paris-Roubaix race, said official race doctors had managed to reach Goolaerts within "two to three minutes".

"They tried to bring him back to life. In this type of race they administer the first treatment and then they call the local emergency services," race organiser Pierre-Yves Thouault told the press

Tour de France race director Christian Prudhomme said Goolaerts' team had been delighted to receive an invitation to Sunday's race, "They so wanted to be on the start line," he said. "We are united in compassion for them."

The winner of the race, Slovakia's three-time world champion Peter Sagan, paid tribute to Goolaerts on Twitter, writing: "All the thoughts and prayers of the BORA hansgrohe team and myself are with Michael Goolaerts. Such sad news...".

Goolaerts became a professional rider in 2014 aged just 20, and had taken part in 20 days of racing in 2018, including  the Tour of Flanders earlier this month.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and team mates at this difficult time.