An Irish club cyclist has died after suffering a suspected heart attack during the Tour of Flanders sportive yesterday (Saturday, April 2).
Pat Coyle, 56, fell ill and collapsed when ascending Oude Kwaremont, 25 kilometres from the sportive’s finished in Oudenaarde.
Medics provided immediate aid to the well-known Irishman, who is thought to have been riding with his son, but they were unable to save him.
It was the Shannonside CC rider’s 14th ride in the annual sportive which attracted 16,000 riders this year for what was the sportive’s 25th anniversary.
Cycling Ireland released a statement, saying: “Cycling Ireland would like to extend their condolences to the family of Pat Coyle of Shannonside CC, Athlone, who died at the Tour of Flanders Sportive in Belgium yesterday following a heart attack.
“The tragedy occurred during the 227km event that attracts 16,000 riders, and is in its 25th year, an event in which he had participated many times.
“Mr Coyle had been an active member of Shannonside Cycling Club, who was particularly committed to the development of the club, having been a key organiser in events like the Operation Transformation cycle in Athlone in 2015.”
Thank you for reading 10 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
-
-
Geraint Thomas 'helps a brother out', aiding Mark Cavendish's valedictory Giro d'Italia stage win
Cavendish now has one final Giro stage win. Will he get one final Tour de France equivalent in July?
-
Charlotte Kool wins final stage of RideLondon-Classique to seal overall victory
Kool edges out Dyget and Van der Duin in bunch sprint
-
Tweets of the week: Cobbles, barbecues, and what on earth is curry ketchup?
Strap in for our pre-Paris-Roubaix round-up of social media's finest
-
Tadej Pogačar claims Kwaremont-Paterberg Strava KOM in Tour of Flanders romp
The two-time Tour de France winner took a host of Strava trophies in Flanders on Sunday
-
CW Live: Tour of Flanders updates as Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky convincingly win; Mathieu van der Poel finishes second; Mads Pedersen beats Wout van Aert to fourth; SD Worx continue dominant spring; Bahrain-Victorious rider apologises for crash;
Join us for live updates from the Tour of Flanders as Tadej Pogačar and Lotte Kopecky win the men's and women's editions
-
Biniam Girmay eyes Tour of Flanders and Tour de France success in 2023
After becoming first African rider to win Gent-Wevelgem, Girmay plans to take aim at the Tour of Flanders and other monuments next year
-
Tour of Flanders Espoirs cancelled indefinitely
The race's date, location and lack of young riders are all factors in the organiser's decision
-
No fans at Tour of Flanders and other Classics in 2021, according to organisers
There will be no fans at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Ghent-Wevelgem, Dwars Door Vlaanderen, Scheldeprijs or Brabantse Pijl in 2021
-
How watching 25 years of Tour of Flanders footage is helping scientists study climate change
It might sound like an excuse to watch some bike racing, but scientists are using footage of the Tour of Flanders to help them study climate change.
-
Peter Sagan: 'If the other riders don't wake up, it's going to be like this'
"It's not just me that they need to beat" Peter Sagan said of his rivals after Quick-Step Floors dominated the Tour of Flanders
