Frank Vandenbroucke dies

Belgian dies on holiday in Senegal

Source: Cyclingnews

Frank Vandenbroucke has died while on holiday in Senegal. Reports in Belgium have said that 34-year-old Belgian cyclist was found in his hotel room and that early reports indicate that he died of a blood clot.

Vandenbroucke was out of contract after leaving Cinelli-Down Under but was looking for a team in 2010 just a few weeks ago.

He turned pro in 1994 with Lotto and won an epic Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 1999, along with two stages in the Vuelta that year. In a two-year winning streak he also won Paris-Nice, Het Volk and Gent-Wevelgem riding for Mapei and Cofidis.

However, his career was not without controversy. He was questioned by police for drunk driving and possession of doping products and despite numerous comebacks he never reached the heights of 1999. He also suffered from depression and tried to commit suicide after his wife said she would divorce him.

Frank Vandenbroucke (Belgium)

6 November 1974 - 12 October 2009

Major results

1995 Paris-Bruxelles
1998 Gent-Wevelgem
1998 Paris-Nice
1999 Liège-Bastogne-Liège
1999 Omloop "Het Volk"
1999 Two Vuelta a España stage wins

Team history

1993 Lotto - Caloi (Belgium)
1994 Lotto - Caloi (Belgium)
1995 Lotto - Isoglass (Belgium)
1995 Mapei - GB (Italy)
1996 Mapei - GB (Italy)
1997 Mapei - GB (Italy)
1998 Mapei - Bricobi (Italy)
1999 Cofidis, le Crédit par Téléphone (France)
2000 Cofidis, le Crédit par Téléphone (France)
2001 Lampre - Daikin (Italy)
2002 Domo - Farm Frites (Belgium)
2003 Quick Step - Davitamon (Belgium)
2004 Fassa Bortolo (Italy)
2004 MrBookmaker.com - Palmans (Belgium)
2005 MrBookmaker.com - SportsTech (Belgium)
2006 Unibet.com (Belgium)
2006 Acqua e Sapone (Italy)
2007 Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo (Italy)
2008 Mitsubishi - Jartazi (Estonia)
2009 Cinelli - Down Under (Australia)

Frank Vandenbroucke (Cofidis) en route to his first Vuelta victory on stage 16.

Frank Vandenbroucke rode for Cinelli-Down Under earlier in 2009.