User:Shearonink/Professional cyclists who have died during training or from other cycling-related reasons

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These athletes did not die during competition, but rather died during training, during scheduled breaks while participating in a professional race or from another reason related to cycling. Since 1994, at least eighteen professional cyclists have been killed after being struck by a car or truck, fifteen while training, three while out cycling for pleasure.

  • Franz Suter (1912)
    Franz Suter (1912)
  • Ottavio Bottechia (1920s)
    Ottavio Bottechia (1920s)
  • Frederiek Nolf May 6, 2008
    Frederiek Nolf
    May 6, 2008
  • Xavier TondoGiro d'Italia 2010
    Xavier Tondo
    Giro d'Italia 2010

1900s to 1928[edit]

  • Archie McEachern, May 13, 1902, Canada, Track cyclist. Coliseum Cycling Track, Atlantic City, New Jersey.[1] McEachern, a former middle distance Canadian National Champion, was also winner of the 1901 New York Madison Square Garden Six-Day Bicycle Race (the first Canadian to do so). In May 1902 he was participating in a practice run prior to the Atlantic City velodrome's official opening that was being paced by a tandem motorcycle (driven by his two trainers Bobby Thompson and Alfred Boake). Riding closely to the pace vehicle, McEachern was fatally injured when the bike's drive chain broke and he died within minutes.[2][3] Canadian Cyclist placed him 9th on their list of Top 25 Canadian Cyclists of the Century in 1999[2] and Journal of Sport History (Volume 1-2, published 1974) stated that he "was one of Canada's most famous professional cyclists" of his day.[4]
  • Breton,[5] track cyclist, Parc des Princes track, August 1902. Breton was killed when he steered his bicycle away from another cyclist and into the path of a 14 horsepower motorcycle being driven at 50 mph by Marius Thé. The track management allowed motorcyclists and racing bicyclists (called "flyers") to train at the same time.[5]
  • Jimmy Michael, Aberaman, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Wales, United Kingdom. 1885 & 1902 World Record-holder (Track).[6] Died while en route from the UK to the United States on the ocean steamer "Savoie". He was either suffering from alcoholic delirium tremens,[7] a brain hemorrhage[8] or possibly a combination of the two. Michael's death most certainly had its genesis in a 1903 cycling accident at Friedenau[9] where he fractured his skull[10] and thereafter suffered debilitating headaches.[11][12] November 1904
  • Hugh McLean, USA, died on September 9 or 10, 1909.[13] as a result of a training accident earlier in the month at the Revere, Mass. cycling track.[Note 1][14][15] McLean was a champion middle distance cyclist[14] who had placed 2nd in the 1899 World Championship (Track/Stayers) and 1st with Floyd Krebs at the 1907 Boston Six Days.[15]
  • Franz Suter,[17] Switzerland, June 1, 1914. Struck by a train while training with his brother Paul near Courbevoie, France.
  • Floyd MacFarland, United States. 1900 & 1908 Six-Day Race Winner (Madison Square Garden). Stabbed to death with a screwdriver during practice at Newark Velodrome, April 17, 1915.[18][19]
  • Ottavio Bottecchia, 1924 & 1925 Tour de France Winner,[20] Italy, June 14, 1927. Found by the side of the road with bruises and serious skull fracture. The cause has remained a mystery — various theories have included a solo-crash/serious fall or an assault by unknown Fascists.[21][22]
  • Gustave Lejour, 1928 Track cyclist, while training on the Frankfurt (Germany) track[23]

1975[edit]

  • Tommy Godwin, United Kingdom. In 1939, Godwin achieved the long-distance record for miles cycled in one year...75,065 miles. Authorities have since determined that the attempt to beat this mileage would be too dangerous so the figure will never be overtaken. Godwin died in 1975 of heart failure, aged 63, returning from a ride to Tutbury Castle with friends.[24]

1994 to 2009[edit]

  • Néstor Mora, Augusto Triano (or "Augusto Gonzalez")[26] and Hernán Patiño, February 21, 1995, Colombia Three members of Team Postobon were killed almost immediately while group training when a truck collided with another vehicle, sending the second vehicle careening into the group of cyclists.[27]
  • Beryl Burton, United Kingdom. Heart failure while out delivering invitations by bicycle to her 59th birthday party, May 8, 1996. One of the most dominating figures in world sports history, Burton regularly beat male competitors. Her 12-hour record of 277.25 miles (raced in 1967) stood as both the women's and the men's world record for two years and is still the women's world record.[28]
  • Edith Atkins,[30] England. Was hit by a car while pushing her bicycle across a pedestrian road crossing, August 28, 1999
  • Anders Nilsson, Sweden, June 21, 2000. National team member in Triathlon, professional. Died immediately when hit by a speeding car during bicycle training, the car left the scene.[31]
  • Ricardo Otxoa, Spain. February 15, 2001.[32] Hit by a car during a training session together with his brother Javier (who survived but suffered serious brain injuries). The Circuito de Getxo was renamed the Memorial Ricardo Otxoa in his honor.
  • Luke Harrop, Australia. January 13, 2002. Struck by a stolen car driven by an unlicensed driver who was out on bail at the time and who also fled the scene. Gold Coast, Brisbane, Australia during a training ride. Having severe head trauma, former champion triathlete Harrop died a day after the accident. In 2003, Australia's Gold Coast Triathlon was renamed in Harrop's memory as the Gold Coast Triathlon — Luke Harrop Memorial.[33][34][35][36][37]
  • Lauri Aus, Estonia. July 20, 2003. Hit by a truck driven by a drunk driver while training for the Estonian MTB (Mountain Biking) Championship.[38][39]
  • Stive Vermaut, Belgium. Retired from professional cycling in 2002 because of a congenital heart disease. Had a heart attack during a recreational ride on June 13, 2004 and died later that month on June 30.[40]
  • Zak Carr, England, UK. Struck from behind and killed while cycling to work near Norwich, on October 17, 2005[42]
  • Scott Peoples, Australia. Struck from behind and killed on a training ride in December 2006 in Victoria.[43]
  • Zinaida Stahurskaya, Belarus. 2000 World Road Race Champion. Struck by a car on a training ride in Belarus, June 25, 2009[46]

2010 to present[edit]

  • Jorge Alvarado, Mexico. A Bahati pro team rider, Alvarado was training when he was struck head-on by a vehicle being driven by an 18-year-old illegally street racing in San Bernardino, CA on April 8, 2010.[50][51]
  • Jure Robič, Slovenia. September 24, 2010. Robič, who won RAAM five times and was renowned for pushing himself to extreme mental breakdown during endurance races, died in a head-on collision with a car while descending on a narrow mountain forest road in Plavški Rovt near Jesenice, Slovenia .[52]
  • Carla Swart, South Africa. January 19, 2011. Swart was a professional who had won nineteen individual and team cycling titles spanning four different variations of biking (cyclo-cross, mountain bike, road, and track) while on the Lees–McRae College cycling team. She lost her cycling computer while on a training ride in her native South Africa and turned into the path of an oncoming truck in a bid to retrieve it. [53]
  • Shamus Liptrot, Australia. May 10, 2011. Died as a result of injuries sustained in a "horrific crash"[54] during the Men's C Grade scratch track race[55] at the 2007 Devonport (Tasmania) Christmas Carnival.[56]
  • Xavier Tondo, Spain. May 23, 2011.[57] Died after being crushed by his garage door while preparing for a training ride with teammate Benat Intxausti.
  • Carly Hibberd, Australia, was hit by a car while training in Italy. July 6, 2011.[58]
  • Rob Goris, Belgium. July 5, 2012.[59] Died from a heart attack in his sleep while visiting the Tour De France.
  • Burry Stander, South Africa. January 3, 2013. Died during a training ride after colliding with a vehicle.[60]
  • Victor Cabedo, South Africa. September 19, 2013. Died during a training ride after colliding with a vehicle.[61][62]


See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The date of McLean's death is reported as both September 3 (The World almanac) and as "early today" September 9 or 10th (News from the Outside World).

References[edit]

  1. ^ Balf, Todd (2009). Major: A Black Athlete, a White Era and the Fight to Be the World's Fastest Human Being. Random House. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-307-23659-3.
  2. ^ a b Arnold Devlin. "Canada's First Six-Day Star". 6-day Racing. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  3. ^ Michael Gabriele (2011). The Golden Age of Bicycle Racing in New Jersey: The final Chapter of the Golden Age of Cycling. The History Press. ISBN 978-1-59629-427-1. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  4. ^ History, North American Society for Sport (1974). Journal of sport history, Volumes 1-2. p. 37. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
  5. ^ a b "Cyclist Killed by Pacing Motor". Motor Cycling and Motoring — with 'The Motor'. Vol. 2, no. 29. London (published August 27, 1902). 1902. p. 46. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  6. ^ Mangan, p.130, 131
  7. ^ "Library Service Heritage Trail — Aberaman". Rhondda Cynon Taff.
  8. ^ Mangan, J.A., ed. (2002). Reformers, sport, modernizers: middle-class revolutionaries (European Sports History Review, Volume 4). Psychology Press. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-7146-5244-3.
  9. ^ Stuyfersant, Andre (May 2010). "Stuyfssportverhalen("Stuyf Sports Stories")". Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  10. ^ "Babylon Wales". May 2006. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  11. ^ Stuyfersant, Andre (March 12, 2009). "Death at the Velodrome". Sportgeschiedenis.nl("Sports History"). Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  12. ^ "Walter Rutt quote (undated cutting)". Journal, Fellowship of Cycling Old-Timers.. From Jimmy Michael
  13. ^ "News from the Outside World". Our paper, Volume 25. Massachusetts Reformatory (Concord, Mass.). 1909. p. 437. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Sporting Obituary (1909)". The World almanac & book of facts. 1909. p. 405. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  15. ^ a b "Cycling Archives (Hugh McLean)". Retrieved July 16, 2011.
  16. ^ James, Tom (August 14, 2003). "1910: The "Assassins" send the race to the Pyrenees". VeloArchive. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  17. ^ Marcel Segessemann. "Cycling Archives(Franz Suter)". Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  18. ^ Andrew M. Horman (2011). Life in the Slipstream: The Legend of Bobby Walthour Sr. p. 214. ISBN 978-1-59797-685-5. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  19. ^ "Floyd MacFarland Stabbed to Death". New York Times. New York. April 18, 1915. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  20. ^ Wheatcroft, George (2005). Le Tour: A History of the Tour de France, 1903-2003. Simon & Schuster. p. 83. ISBN 978-0-684-02879-8. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  21. ^ "Cycling Archives(Ottavio Bottechia)". Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  22. ^ James, Tom. "1925: Once again Bottechia". VeloArchive.Com. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  23. ^ Sport-Album der Rad-Welt, vol. 27/1928, p. 11. Berlin, Verlag Rad-Welt.
  24. ^ Barter, Dave (November 22, 2006). "Tommy Godwin". Phased dot co dot UK. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  25. ^ "Fallece el ciclista Antonio Martín". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). February 12, 1994. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  26. ^ Newton, Louis. "Today in Cycling History". Forsythebike.Com. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  27. ^ Marin Martinez, Duvan (February 22, 1995). "No me dejen morir, no me dejen morir!". El Tiempo.Com. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  28. ^ Gladstone, Hugh (February 26, 2010). "Beryl Burton: British Legend". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved December 14, 2012.
  29. ^ Green, Roy. "1950's Biographies — Dave Bedwell (A Tribute to Dave Bedwell)(Obituary)". Tour-Racing.co.UK (& 'Cycling Weekly'). Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  30. ^ "Ron Atkins' Memories". Coventry Telegraph. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
  31. ^ "Sweden's Nilsson killed in hit-and-run". SlowTwitch.Com. June 21, 2004. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  32. ^ "Cycling Memorials — Ricardo and Javier Otxoa". Daily Peloton — Pro Cycling News. September 9, 2003. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  33. ^ "Gold Coast Tri Event History". USMEvents. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  34. ^ Roberts, Greg (August 14, 2002). "Anger over 18 months' parole for driver of stolen car who killed triathlete". SMH.com (Sydney Morning Herald). Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  35. ^ "Focus on Emma's win, not Luke's death: Harrop". GoldCoast.Com.Au (Gold Coast Bulletin, Sun Community Newspapers). August 19, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  36. ^ "Woman Charged in Luke Harrop's Death". Duathlon.Com (originally AP). Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  37. ^ "Gentle reminder in memory of Luke Harrop". Australian Olympic Team. May 2, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  38. ^ "Remembering Lauri Aus (1970-2003)". July 20, 2009. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  39. ^ Anita van Crey (July 20, 2003). "Estonian pro Lauri Aus dies after Car Accident". Daily Peloton — Pro Cycling News. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  40. ^ Henry, Chris (June 30, 2004). "Vermaut dead at 28". CyclingNews.Com. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
  41. ^ Stevenson, John (July 19, 2005). "Australian team rider Amy Gillett dead after crash". Cycling News.Com. Future Publishing Limited. Retrieved August 6, 2010.
  42. ^ "Tired motorist jailed over death". BBC News. January 29, 2007.
  43. ^ "Cycle crash inquest told of driver's poor sight". ABC News. 28 Augsut 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  44. ^ "Cycling star dies after collision". bbc.co.uk. BBC. January 16, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2012. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  45. ^ "Promising Belgian rider dies of suspected heart attack". The Guardian. July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  46. ^ "Stahurskaya Dies In Training Accident, Says Coach". Bicycle.Net. June 26, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  47. ^ Shane Stokes (December 1, 2006). "De Fauw speaks about Gálvez". Cycling News. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  48. ^ Edmond Hood (November 7, 2009). "Rest In Peace: Dimitri De Fauw". PezCyclingNews. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  49. ^ Cycling News (November 7, 2009). "Six-day rider takes his life". Cycling News. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  50. ^ Stephen Farrand (April 9, 2010). "Bahati rider killed during training ride". CyclingNews. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  51. ^ "Pro Cyclist Struck, Killed by 'Street Racing Teens'". KTLA News. April 9, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  52. ^ Unknown (September 24, 2010). "Jure Robic Killed in Accident". CyclingNews. Retrieved October 30, 2013.
  53. ^ Unknown (January 19, 2011). "Carla Swart killed in South Africa". CyclingNews. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  54. ^ Paul Verkuylen (December 29–30, 2007). "Devonport Carnival December 29–30, 2007 - Day 1". Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  55. ^ Paul Verkuylen (January 1, 2008). "Huge support for the Liptrot appeal". Cycling News. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  56. ^ Cycling News (May 10, 2011). "Australian cycling community mourns death of Shamus Liptrot". Cycling News. Retrieved May 15, 2011.
  57. ^ "Tondo dies at his home in Spain". Daily Mail. London. May 23, 2011. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  58. ^ Ben Atkins (July 6, 2011). "Carly Hibberd killed after being hit by car". Velo Nation. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  59. ^ "Accent Jobs Goris dies of heart attach at age 30". July 5,2012. Retrieved July 9,2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= and |date= (help)
  60. ^ http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2013/07/30/driver-to-face-trial-over-burry-stander-s-death
  61. ^ "Victor Cabedo killed while training in Spain". VeloNews. September 19, 2012. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  62. ^ Rogers, Iain (September 19, 2012). "Cycling: Euskaltel rider Cabedo killed in traffic accident". Chicago Tribune. Reuters. Retrieved January 14, 2013.
  63. ^ Holcombe, Brian (3 October 2013). "Dombroski killed in training crash". Velonews. Retrieved 3 October 2013.

External links[edit]

Ride for Silence: "Let the Silence Roar"
Ride for Silence 1983-2010 In Memoriam
League of American Cyclists - In Memoriam 2005 to 2009

[[Category:Lists of people by cause of death|Cycling]] [[Category:Lists of cyclists]] [[Category:Transport accident lists|Cycling]]

Asked for input at WikiProject Cycling and at the parent article's talkpage. There were no objections to splitting off this content.

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