Pro cyclist Antoine Demoitie dies following mid-race crash with motorbike

A professional cyclist has died after he was struck by a motorbike during a road race. Police said Antoine Demoitie, 25, was hit as several riders crashed out of the Belgian Gent-Wevelgem race as it made a brief loop into France on Sunday. He was taken to hospital in Lille after the accident in Sainte Marie-Cappel, northern France, but died later. "The rider died. An inquiry is under way to determine the circumstances,“ said Frederic Evrard, spokesman for the Nord-Pas-de-Calais regional police in France.

R.I.P  Antoine Demoitié. Horrible day. Sport should never come to this.

Two-time Giro d'Italia winner Ivan Basso, among many riders who paid tributes

Demoitie’s team, Wanty-Gobert, posted a tribute on social media on Monday morning. On Sunday night the team had tweeted that the rider’s wife and family were at his bedside in hospital. The 151-mile (243km), one-day race was won by the current world road race champion, Peter Sagan of Slovakia. Lotto Soudal rider Jens Debusschere was also taken to hospital after crashing during the notoriously gruelling race. He suffered concussion and bruising but is expected to recover.

Antoine Demoitie