Norwegian bike owner André Drege has died aged 25 following a crash on the Tour of Austria, his group Coop-Repsol introduced on Saturday.
“Our ideas and prayers are with André’s household and family members throughout this extremely tough time,” the group posted on X, previously referred to as Twitter.
“André’s household has requested privateness as they mourn their loss, and we kindly ask that their needs are revered.”
In keeping with the European Biking Union (UEC), Drege died after crashing whereas descending the Grossglockner, an Austrian mountain that riders climbed on stage 4 of this yr’s race on Saturday as they accomplished the 151.7 kilometer route from St. Johann Alpendorf to Kals.
“Our deepest condolences go to his household, pals, and teammates,” the group added. “Relaxation in peace, André.”
Race organizers for the Tour of Austria haven’t but introduced whether or not Sunday’s stage will go forward as deliberate.
This yr, Drege had loved a few of his finest leads to his nascent biking profession, profitable the final classifications on the Tour of Rhodes and South Aegean Tour in addition to a stage on the Circuit des Ardennes.
He started biking aged 14 when he borrowed his dad’s street bike and ultimately moved from his hometown of Stranda in Norway to Lillehammer to entry one of the best coaching, in keeping with his group.
After information of his dying broke, the biking world paid tribute to Drege with a number of groups providing their condolences.
“An terrible day for biking, one other life gone too quickly,” Workforce DSM-firmenich PostNL wrote on X.
Intermarché-Wanty wrote on X that it was “heartbroken to study the passing of our fellow colleague bike owner André Drege, who had a beautiful profession forward of him,” whereas the UCI – biking’s governing physique – mentioned it was “devastated” by the information.
Drege’s dying comes simply over a yr after one other skilled bike owner in his 20s – Gino Mäder – died in a crash throughout a stage of the Tour de Suisse.
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