Belgian rider Antoine Demoitié dies in hospital after Ghent-Wevelgem crash

Rider reportedly hit by motorbike while competing at his home race on Sunday

Antoine Demoitie
(Image credit: By Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick / Leuven - Grote Prijs Jef Scherens, 23 augustus 2015 (B094) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0)

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.

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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.

More on this story

Antoine Demoitié, 1990-2016

'Our family has lost a brother': cycling pays tribute to Antoine Demoitié

'Rider safety must come first' says CPA after death of Antoine Demoitié

Wanty-Groupe Gobert refuse to blame moto driver for death of Antoine Demoitié

World Champion Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) took the victory in the 2016 edition of Ghent-Wevelgem.

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Richard Windsor

Follow on Twitter: @richwindy


Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.


An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).