Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke has died at the age of 34.
The 1998 Paris-Nice winner’s body was found in a Senegalese hotel room where he had been holidaying.
Belgian media suggested the rider had suffered a pulmonary embolism.
Vandenbroucke made his professional debut in 1994 and recorded 51 victories, including the 1999 Liege-Bastogne-Liege classic, his career highlight.
In 2002, Vandenbroucke was twice stopped by police and discovered to be under the influence of alcohol at the wheel of a car. In another incident that year, a police search at his home uncovered a large quantity of doping substances.
In 2003, when he rode for the Quick Step team, Vandenbroucke appeared on the way back after a second place finish in the prestigious Tour of Flanders classic.
However, despite a promising start to the 2004 season, hopes of a sustained comeback were cut short and he sunk further into depression.
‘Sadly this has only partly come as a surprise, for we knew he was not doing too well,’ said his uncle, former racer Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke.
‘He was up and down, both in terms of his health and his morale. He left for Senegal on Sunday.’
