R.I.P FREDERIEK NOLF

So tragic.. Here is Frederiek’s guestbook

Just terrible.

The Belgian cyclist Frederiek Nolf (Topsport Vlaanderen) was found dead in his hotel room Thursday morning, announced Eddy Merckx, one of the course directors of the Tour of Qatar. Frederiek Nolf, about to celebrate his 22nd birthday on the 10th of February, was found lifeless around 9 AM local time (7AM French time) in the 14th floor room of the Ritz-Carlton that he shared with one of his teammates, compatriot Kristof Goddaert. This roommate, realizing that Frederiek Nolf was not waking up, alerted his directeur sportif, Jean-Pierre Heynderrickx.

“I shook Frederiek’s leg, telling him to wake up,” explained [Mr. Heynderrickx]. “But I quickly perceived that something was not normal. I took his hand, and it was cold. There was no pulse. I therefore told Kristof to leave the room because there was a major problem.” A few minutes later, a doctor confirmed the death.

"Frederiek was on form"
Asked about any previous signs of fatigue in Nolf, Jean-Pierre Heynderrickx was clear. “Nothing alerted us to a health problem,” he emphasized. “Frederiek was in top form. Last night, I was joking with him just until he went to bed at 10 PM.” His roomate noticed nothing during the night, and Frederiek Nolf was found lying on his back, in his normal sleeping position. The DS further declared, “our riders undergo medical tests four times a year at the University of Louvain (in Belgium) and all Frederiek’s parameters / stats have always been normal. What has happened was completely unexpected.”

The body of the rider should [will?] be quickly repatriated to Belgium, where his parents and his fiancee were quickly notified by the Topsport directors. An autopsy should be [must be?] done to determine the cause of death.

This was Nolf’s second pro season with [deep inside, at /in the breast of] l’équipe Topsport Vlaanderen – Mercator, a Continental Pro team (one category behind ProTour). According to Eddy Merckx, the 5th stage of the Tour of Qatar, which takes place on the Camel Race Track at Doha Foundation, will be "neutralized". "In respect to Frederiek Nolf, the riders will ride the stage as a cortege", he said. Topsport has left the race. This death of a rider in his sleep isn’t the first. n’est pas une première. En 2003, the Frenchman Fabrice Salanson died at 23 years of age in the same circumstances during the Tour of Germany. (Avec AFP)

L’Equipe has another article here, translated below:
The riders of the Tour of Qatar observed a minute of silence Thursday at the start of the 5th tape in tribute to Belgian rider Frederiek Nolf, found dead Thursday in his Doha hotel room. The 147 kilometer stage between the Camel Race Track and Doha was neutralized by the race directors out of respect for the rider. The platoon rode in convoy and in silence about thirty kilometers at slow speed and a heavy atmosphere. A ceremony of homage is scheduled tonite at 18.00 Doha time at the Ritz-Carlton said Christian Prudhomme, the director of the race.

Frederiek Nolf will be taken to Belgium shortly, via Paris, according to the Ambassador of Belgium who went to the stage start today. The Belgian Embassy will open a collection of condolences for the riders and followers of the Tour of Qatar that want to leave a message to the parents and the fiancé of the deceased. Team Topsport Vlaanderen received condolences from the race directors and the Qatar Cycling Federation. The Flemish Minister of Sport also sent its condolences.

What can you say?

My thoughts are with his family, friends and team

here

RIP brother.

Everytime I read an article.. Such a loss and so young!

Prayers to his family and fiancee’… and to his friends stay strong and keep riding, he will ride beside you everyday.