Belgian rider Antoine Demoitié dies in hospital after Ghent-Wevelgem crash
Rider reportedly hit by motorbike while competing at his home race on Sunday
Team Wanty-Groupe Gobert Antoine Demoitié has died in hospital after suffering a crash at the 2016 Ghent-Wevelgem.
The Belgian pro continental team confirmed that their home rider was in the ICU of a university hospital in Lille, France and described his condition as 'extremely serious' earlier on Sunday evening, but police confirmed his death late on Sunday night.
"The rider died. An inquiry is under way to determine the circumstances," said Frederic Evrard, a spokesman for the Nord-Pas-de-Calais regional police.
Details of the crash are currently scarce, but reports suggest that he crashed and was subsequently run over by a motorcycle.
Wanty-Groupe Gobert have not yet issued a full statement, but have confirmed the news via Twitter. Demoitié's family were by his side at the hospital where he was being treated.
The incident took place at Sainte-Marie-Cappel (Nord), in the French area of Flanders, and the rider was transported to the hospital in Lille.
Demoitié was 25-year-old joined the Belgian side last year from Wallonie-Bruxelles and had recently completed the E3 Harelbeke on Friday.
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World Champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) took the victory in the 2016 edition of Ghent-Wevelgem.
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