Goolaerts suffered a cardiac arrest in the Briastre cobble sector of the one-day 257-km race in northern France and was airlifted to Lille Hospital Center but despite being resusictated, died several hours later at the age of just 23.
The Belgian rider – in only his second year as a professional rider with Verandas Willems-Crelan – crashed on the second set of cobbles and a medical statement later confirmed that he was in a life-threatening condition.
TV cameras drove past the incident with Goolaerts lying seemingly motionless at the side of the road, where he received emergency CPR.
Goolaerts’ team said in an official statement on Twitter: “It is with unimaginable sadness that we have to communciate the passing of our rider and friend Michael Goolaerts.
“He passed away Sunday evening at 22:40 in Lille hospital in the presence of his family members and loved ones, who we keep in our thoughts.
“He did of cardiac arrest, all medical assistance was to no avail. For now there will be no further communication as we want to give his close ones time to deal with this terrible loss. We thank you in advance for respecting the privacy of his relatives.”
President of Union Cycliste Internationale, the world governing body for cycling, David Lappartient tweeted: “On behalf of the Union Cycliste Internationale and the cycling family as a whole, 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 race, also known as the Hell of the North for its renowned difficulty, was won by triple world champion Peter Sagan.
