Team Dimension Data will line up at tomorrow’s De Brabantse Pijl with the young Michael Goolaerts, who died suddenly after the Paris-Roubaix, in their hearts.
The 23-year-old Belgian, who cycled for Vérandas Willems-Crelan, suffered cardiac arrest during the event and died hours later in hospital.
The African team will pay their respects to him when they compete in the 201km race that runs from Leuven to Overijse in Belgium.
South Africa’s Ryan Gibbons is one of the Dimension Data riders who will line up at tomorrow’s De Brabantse Pijl in Belgium. The team will pay their respects to the young Michael Goolaerts, who died after the Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
The seven DiData riders who will be at the start are Edvald Boasson Hagen (who was the favoured rider for Paris-Roubaix), Julien Vermote, Serge Pauwels, Ryan Gibbons, Johann van Zyl, Scott Davies and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier.
Belgian Vermote is relatively new to the team, having joined in August. The 28-year-old spent seven years with the Quick-Step outfit and claimed three professional victories.
South Africa’s Gibbons achieved a good placing at the recent Gent-Wevelgem, while countryman Van Zyl finished 17th overall in last month’s Tour de Langkawi.
They will tackle cobbled roads and steep climbs during the race, which is viewed as a transitional event between the spring cobbled classics and the Ardennes classics.
“Tomorrow will see a combination of Flanders and Ardennes classics riders come together,” said the team’s sport director JP Heynderickx.
“There are many climbs on the parcours. This will make it a tough race, but one we look forward to.
“We’d like to pay our respects to Michael Goolaerts’s family, friends and team.”
