Cycling world struggles to make sense of Lambrecht`s death
(Cyclingnews.com)

The Tour de Pologne is struggling to come to terms with the tragic news that one of its riders, Bjorg Lambrecht (Lotto Soudal), had died in a crash during stage 3. Lambrecht crashed into a concrete culvert a third of the way through the stage to Zabrze. A local rider who did not want to be identified told Polish reporters after the stage that Lambrecht had put his arm up and been calling for a director shortly before crashing, but that nobody had any idea why he had actually fallen. First reports that Lambrecht had died filtered through just as the riders were finishing the stage. Hospital staff informed a local newspaper, but it took time to be confirmed through the race organisation. Lambrecht`s death was then confirmed by the race doctor and then by the Tour de Pologne director Czeslaw Lang.ADVERTISEMENT As news filtered through, the usual festive atmosphere surrounding the seven-day WorldTour event subsided rapidly. The pounding pop music that accompanies each start and finish was turned down and the hyped-up, prize-giving ceremonies were quickly cancelled. The crowds dispersed quickly and quietly. Out at the line of team buses situated behind the stadium next to the finish, waiting for the riders to come through, the mood was equally downcast. Staff stood quietly by their charges as they wheeled to a halt and tried to find out accurate information. Most heard of Lambrecht`s death first through social media. Although there have been bad crashes in the past, this is the first time since the race turned fully professional in 1993 under the management of Czeslaw Lang that there has been a fatality on the event. You can read more at Cyclingnews.com