Awful, awful news from Europe.
Belgian cycling is reeling after the death of 21-year-old under-23 rider Milan Bral. The young cyclist died following a serious collision when training on Sunday.
Bral was struck by a driver at an intersection an afternoon ride.
Emergency services transported him to hospital in Ghent with life-threatening injuries. Despite hours of treatment, he died later that evening, according to Sporza.
Team is rocked by death
His team Dovy Keukens FCC Cycling Team, posted about the tragedy.
“Milan was so much more than a rider to us,” the team said in a statement. “He was a wonderful person, a true teammate, someone always ready to help others. He was an important part of our group. Milanwas loved by everyone and will be deeply missed. Milan will always remain part of our team.”
In his third season at the under-23 level, Bral had shown steady progress. He recently finished fifth in the time trial at the West Flanders provincial championships and eighth in the road race.
Cycling runs deep in the Bral family. His younger brother Xibe is a junior rider, and former professional Sep Vanmarcke is their uncle.
Hours after the news, Xibe shared an emotional tribute, recalling his brother’s guidance, ambition, and favourite phrase: “Dream F*cking Big.”
This is the second time in days that a top-level cyclist has died. Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros died at 30 after complications linked to a crash at the Tour du Jura in France. The Nu Colombia rider was initially treated for what appeared to be a knee injury after the fall, but further examinations revealed a serious infection. His condition worsened in the following days despite medical care. The team confirmed his death on Friday and announced it would withdraw from the Vuelta a Asturias in response to the news.
His former teammate at UAE, Tadej Pogačar, saluted him when he won Liège-Bastogne-Liège on Sunday.