Michael Goolaerts facts for kids
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Goolaerts in 2017
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 July 1994 Lier, Belgium |
| Died | 8 April 2018 (aged 23) Lille, France |
| Height | 1.86 m |
| Weight | 80 kg |
| Team information | |
| Discipline | Road |
| Role | Rider |
Michael Goolaerts (born July 24, 1994 – died April 8, 2018) was a talented Belgian cyclist. He rode for the Verandas Willems–Crelan team. During the famous 2018 Paris–Roubaix race, Michael had a serious heart problem. He was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Lille, France, where he sadly passed away later that day.
Contents
Michael's Early Life and Cycling Start
Michael Goolaerts was born in Lier, Belgium. He grew up in a town called Hallaar, which is part of Heist-op-den-Berg. From a young age, he loved cycling and joined the Balen Bicycle Club.
Winning Championships
Michael quickly showed he was a strong rider.
- In 2010, he won the provincial individual time trial championship in Antwerp. This was for new riders.
- He won the individual time trial championship again in 2011, this time in the juniors category.
- In 2012, he was part of teams that won Belgian national junior championships. These wins were in the team pursuit and the team sprint.
- That same year, he finished eighth in the junior version of the Tour of Flanders, a very important race.
Michael's Professional Cycling Career
Michael started his professional journey in cycling.
- In the second half of 2013, he joined the Verandas Willems team as a stagiaire. This means he was a trainee rider.
- His hard work paid off, and he got a full-time contract with the team the next year.
- In 2015, he moved to Lotto-Soudal's development team. This team helps young riders get better.
Joining Verandas Willems–Crelan
- Michael joined Lotto–Soudal as a stagiaire again on August 1, 2016.
- Then, he rejoined the Vérandas Willems–Crelan team for the 2017 season. This team was now a UCI Professional Continental team, which is a higher level.
- He raced in the 2017 Étoile de Bessèges and finished in the top 10 at the GP Briek Schotte.
- In 2017, he also made early breakaways in big races like the 2017 Tour of Flanders, Halle–Ingooigem, and 2017 Paris–Tours. A breakaway is when a small group of riders gets ahead of the main group.
- At the start of the 2018 season, he placed ninth in the Dwars door West–Vlaanderen race.
Michael's Last Race
On April 8, 2018, Michael Goolaerts started his first Paris–Roubaix race. This race is famous for its rough, cobbled roads.
- About 109 kilometers into the race, on a cobbled section near Briastre, he had a sudden heart problem and fell from his bike.
- Medics quickly arrived and tried to help him. He was then taken by helicopter to a hospital in Lille.
- Sadly, Michael passed away later that evening.
- Doctors found that his heart problem happened before he fell from his bike.
Remembering Michael
In May 2018, it was announced that the cobbled section where Michael fell would be renamed "Secteur Pavé Michael Goolaerts." This was done to honor him. His family was invited to unveil a monument there the next month.
Michael's Major Achievements
Here are some of Michael's best results in cycling:
- 2012
- 1st
Team sprint, National Junior Track Championships - 8th Junior Tour of Flanders
- 2015
- 4th Paris–Chauny
- 2016
- 1st Stage 1 Tour du Loir-et-Cher
- 9th Nationale Sluitingprijs
- 2018
- 9th Dwars door West–Vlaanderen
See also
- List of cyclists with a cycling-related death
