Michael Goolaerts RIP

robert88
robert88 Posts: 2,696
edited April 2018 in Pro race
Michael Goolaerts dies following cardiac arrest at Paris-Roubaix
Belgian rider was 23 years old

Goolaerts crashed with 148km remaining of the 257km race. There were no images of the incident and it appeared that the Belgian came down by himself.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/michael ... s-roubaix/

Comments

  • Dorset_Boy
    Dorset_Boy Posts: 7,572
    What awful news to start the week with.
    Thoughts go out to his family, friends and team.
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Oh, no. That's awful.

    Condolences to all who knew him.
  • Beatmaker
    Beatmaker Posts: 1,092
    So, so sad. My 9 year old daughter was worried when she saw him on the verge, seems only right I tell her :-(
  • Vino'sGhost
    Vino'sGhost Posts: 4,129
    Terrible
  • dannbodge
    dannbodge Posts: 1,152
    Beatmaker wrote:
    So, so sad. My 9 year old daughter was worried when she saw him on the verge, seems only right I tell her :-(

    It's terrible news and thoughts are with his team, family and friends.

    There seemed to be a few crashes that were single riders going down with no-one else.

    I wish you luck explaining it to your daughter.
  • jimmythecuckoo
    jimmythecuckoo Posts: 4,718
    Terrible news. RIP
    http://fendrieneu.home.blog
    My blog and pod...
    Beers of Belgium Cycling Club UK
  • prhymeate
    prhymeate Posts: 795
    Such a sad story.

    There is actually a charity that offer free cardiac screenings for those between 14-35. I didn't know about it until today and have signed myself up. https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/
  • lincolndave
    lincolndave Posts: 9,441
    Such a pity,RIP Michael.
  • burnthesheep
    burnthesheep Posts: 675
    Is there anything "more" people should do? I would think most pro's have had an ekg at some point in their life. My yearly physical for work does one.

    A local university here has local hospitals with sports medicine offerings. They have EKG and lactate testing and such. I wonder if that would be worth it for even amateurs fancying a go at a race. Just on the chance they catch something.

    It's just such a pity. It raises a moment of awareness that could genuinely help other people.

    RIP.
  • dizzydane
    dizzydane Posts: 322
    Prhymeate wrote:
    Such a sad story.

    There is actually a charity that offer free cardiac screenings for those between 14-35. I didn't know about it until today and have signed myself up. https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/
    Very sad. Also only heard about these screenings today and just booked an appointment.
  • mididoctors
    mididoctors Posts: 18,908
    feels kinda messed up.
    "If I was a 38 year old man, I definitely wouldn't be riding a bright yellow bike with Hello Kitty disc wheels, put it that way. What we're witnessing here is the world's most high profile mid-life crisis" Afx237vi Mon Jul 20, 2009 2:43 pm
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Yeah terrible news.

    Did he crash and then have a heart attack? Or did he crash as a result or the heart attack?
    _
  • Lanterne_Rogue
    Lanterne_Rogue Posts: 4,334
    Rick Chasey wrote:
    Yeah terrible news.

    Did he crash and then have a heart attack? Or did he crash as a result or the heart attack?

    “According to our initial information, some form of medical issue, without doubt cardiac-related, caused the crash [in which the cyclist was involved], rather than a crash causing his medical state,” according to the spokesperson for the Cambrai regional court.

    Source: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/apr/09/michael-goolaerts-death-paris-roubaix

    On another note, as well as suggesting people get screening, learning basic first aid and CPR may one day enable you to save a life. No suggestion that this particular instance happened due to a lack of care, but you never know when you might be in a position to help.
    Twitter: @canocola @thedreadships
  • Bo Duke
    Bo Duke Posts: 1,058
    He died following his passion, but way too young. Surely all teams should screen their riders?

    RIP.
    'Performance analysis and Froome not being clean was a media driven story. I haven’t heard one guy in the peloton say a negative thing about Froome, and I haven’t heard a single person in the peloton suggest Froome isn’t clean.' TSP
  • green_mark
    green_mark Posts: 74
    Very Sad

    Strangely, my news feed came up with two other cyclists suffering heart attacks this weekend, both while on their bikes.
    One in Kent - also a sad event.
    http://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/lates ... ark-375961

    One in California - gracefully the rider is recovering.
    http://redkiteprayer.com/2018/04/yule-to-the-max/
  • davidof
    davidof Posts: 3,123
    burnthesheep wrote:

    A local university here has local hospitals with sports medicine offerings. They have EKG and lactate testing and such. I wonder if that would be worth it for even amateurs fancying a go at a race.

    It can't do any harm if you can get one done easily, they may show up some condition but as my doctor said, she can do an ekg and other tests and I can walk out the door and keel over from a heart attack even if there was nothing unusual in the tests.
    BASI Nordic Ski Instructor
    Instagramme
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,553
    Bo Duke wrote:
    Surely all teams should screen their riders?
    They do. All riders at pro-continental level and above have to undertake an annual ECG test. Sadly, this doesn't always identify anomalies.
  • Bo Duke
    Bo Duke Posts: 1,058
    andyp wrote:
    Bo Duke wrote:
    Surely all teams should screen their riders?
    They do. All riders at pro-continental level and above have to undertake an annual ECG test. Sadly, this doesn't always identify anomalies.
    Thanks.
    'Performance analysis and Froome not being clean was a media driven story. I haven’t heard one guy in the peloton say a negative thing about Froome, and I haven’t heard a single person in the peloton suggest Froome isn’t clean.' TSP
  • blazing_saddles
    blazing_saddles Posts: 22,726
    State prosecutor:
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cycling/43731577
    "Science is a tool for cheaters". An anonymous French PE teacher.
  • takethehighroad
    takethehighroad Posts: 6,822
    I was watching the race again this morning and Goolaerts was sat on GVA's wheel just before the sector.

    Was sad to think that around 5 minutes later such tragedy would strike
  • DeVlaeminck
    DeVlaeminck Posts: 9,104
    I was just browsing Twitter and came across this excellent piece by Jose Been. I found the thought of the bike still in the house 5 years later and his mum still watching the racing, maybe because not to would be to accept her son was no longer part of the peloton, very moving.

    https://escapecollective.com/five-years-after-his-death-at-paris-roubaix-michael-goolaerts-rides-on-in-memory/
    [Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]
  • bobmcstuff
    bobmcstuff Posts: 11,435
    Very moving.

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