"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Franck VdB attempts suicide

From cycling news,

"Wednesday afternoon, Belgian cyclist Franck Vandenbroucke attempted suicide in Vermezzo, Italy. According to tuttobiciweb.com, the 1999 winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège is in grave condition at the Red Cross hospital in Fornaroli di Magenta (near Milano). The doctors have declined to comment on the 32 year-old's prognosis.

Vandenbroucke was considered one of Belgium's brightest stars when he debuted with team Lotto in 1994. Amongst his main victories are Gent-Wevelgem and Paris-Nice in 1998, Omloop Het Volk and Liège in 1999. He had passed some difficult years in the early 2000s but seemed to have found his step at the end of last season when he signed for Palmiro Masciarelli's Acqua e Sapone.

Past teams: Lotto (1994), Lotto / Mapei (1995), Mapei (1996-1998), Cofidis (1999-2000), Lampre-Daikin (2001), Domo-Farm Frites (2002), Quick Step-Davitamon (2003), Fassa Bortolo / MrBookmaker (2004), MrBookmaker-Sports Tech (2005), Unibet.com / Acqua & Sapone (2006), Acqua & Sapone-Caffè Mokambo (2007)."


That poor guy needs some serious counseling.

Yeesh, hopefully he comes through everything in one bit.

Very sad news. I hope he makes it, and someone can help him.

Doubt it. It almost reads like a death notice. If the quacks aren't commenting and the situation is 'grave' its really bad. Terrible news.

Damn. :(

... Brad

One and possibly the last in a long line of selfish acts.

Well, at least nobody can say "I didn't see it coming, he always seemed so happy". sad.

Always been a big VDB fan. So much damn talent, even without synthetic help. This isn't surprising though. Makes me mad actually. A big knock on the whole system he came through.

^^^please expand on why it's an indictment of the "system" that I assume identified his talent and attempted to develop it.

^^^please expand on why it's an indictment of the "system" that I assume identified his talent and attempted to develop it.


Because those parents, coaches, directors, etc, that are developing the riders, push them into the win at all costs attitude and well you know what happens then...

VDB was the Boonen of his generation, but had a horrible support system. He was given everything he needed, but from the wrong people.

Boonen, on the other hand, has an upstanding family, was nurtured slowly and found peace within the craziness of being the next big thing. Now he's doing what VDB should have been doing 10 years ago.

VDB, like Ullrich had the talent, but only rode because there was cash to be made. If either of those guys had the ability to make that kind of living elsewhere, they'd probably be a lot happier.

One and possibly the last in a long line of selfish acts.

Kick the guy when he's down. That's very classy.

I realize this is BF, but try not to be such a putz.

Come on Franckie-Boy, win one last race for us.

One and possibly the last in a long line of selfish acts.

True. Another extremely gifted, fortunate individual in terms of opportunity, but sadly a self destructive brat.

cyclingnews are reporting that he's now past the worst and should recover. Good news, as the first report was rather gloomy. It appears he slit his wrist. Hopefully he can get his head together.

Hopefully he can get his head together.


How many times have we said this about Frank?


Poor bloke

Oh noes! The emo-virus has spread thru the peloton!

Oh noes! The emo-virus has spread thru the peloton!

Yes, anyone who has struggled with mental illness and suicidal thoughts is the same as an emo kid.

Weak.

How many times have we said this about Frank?


Poor bloke

Belgium has a long tradition of nutty bike riders. Frank VDB, Erik De Vlaeminck (a family friend was his social worker - reckoned he was nutty as a snickers bar), Erik Vanderaerden, Fons De Wolf, Dirk De Wolf......

Kick the guy when he's down. That's very classy.

I realize this is BF, but try not to be such a putz.

Let's call it a difference of opinion.

Obviously I'm not happy that he tried to kill himself but I'll reserve my sympathy and compassion for his parents, any siblings, his ex-wife [who probably still has feelings for the person he used to be], and his daughter - the people who care more about him than he cares about himself. FBD gave them a big ol F-you to with his suicide attempt.

We all have our burdens to bear and I not being a pro cyclist or divorced is not the end of the world. He needs to find some perspective and not be so self absorbed.

Because those parents, coaches, directors, etc, that are developing the riders, push them into the win at all costs attitude and well you know what happens then...

VDB was the Boonen of his generation, but had a horrible support system. He was given everything he needed, but from the wrong people.

Boonen, on the other hand, has an upstanding family, was nurtured slowly and found peace within the craziness of being the next big thing. Now he's doing what VDB should have been doing 10 years ago.

VDB, like Ullrich had the talent, but only rode because there was cash to be made. If either of those guys had the ability to make that kind of living elsewhere, they'd probably be a lot happier.

i'll bet you feel britney spear's pain too :eek: ?

whatever the problems are VDB and spear's have the resources and support to get help. i have much more sympathy for a mentally ill person living on the streets.

ed rader

We all have our burdens to bear and I not being a pro cyclist or divorced is not the end of the world. He needs to find some perspective and not be so self absorbed.

Wow, it's people like this that make people with mental illness feel like crap. You act like a person can just *snap* out of a depression... this is never the case. Having depression is not a reflection of character, it really is a disease... now please read a pamphlet or something and get an education about the subject.

Belgium has a long tradition of nutty bike riders. Frank VDB, Erik De Vlaeminck (a family friend was his social worker - reckoned he was nutty as a snickers bar), Erik Vanderaerden, Fons De Wolf, Dirk De Wolf......

Snickers.....that's gold!!!


I heard someone described as being "nuttier than squirrel sh1t.." once. Love it. :D

Wow, it's people like this that make people with mental illness feel like crap. You act like a person can just *snap* out of a depression... this is never the case. Having depression is not a reflection of character, it really is a disease... now please read a pamphlet or something and get an education about the subject.

Please explain how I make people with mental illness "feel like crap". I did not make any derrogatory EMO comments or call VDB weak - I just said his act was selfish and that he needed to get a little perspective. If he wasn't so focused on himself and his problems it would make it easier for see the good in the world and why there IS a reason to live.

If you know, live, or love someone with such a disorder you know that you can't live their life for them. For example, take an alcoholic who has an excuse or a story for why the "bad luck" in their life is never the result of any of their actions, refuses to face up to their responsibilities, and uses their desease as an excuse. Having a desease doesn't absolve you from being accountable for your actions.

If you find alcoholism too far removed from depression consider the clinically depressed person who refuses to take their anti-depressant meds or the bipolor individual who refuses their lithium medication. It's against the law to forcibly medicate people against their will - they have the choice and responsibility for their actions and the resulting consequences. Ultimately those who love and care for people will such deseases have to let the individual live their life because until they hit rock bottom things won't change.

And since you felt comfortable providing advice in a vacuum I will too - why don't you put your pamphlet down and go out into the real world for a moment. If VDB's suicide attempt was successful I'm sure his daughter would feel better reading your pamphlet in lieu of not having a father for the rest of her life.

jesus... you people are something else. Calling a person who is obviously mentally unstable selfish is a low blow. You have to be awfully sick to commit suicide.

Because those parents, coaches, directors, etc, that are developing the riders, push them into the win at all costs attitude and well you know what happens then...

VDB was the Boonen of his generation, but had a horrible support system. He was given everything he needed, but from the wrong people.

Boonen, on the other hand, has an upstanding family, was nurtured slowly and found peace within the craziness of being the next big thing. Now he's doing what VDB should have been doing 10 years ago.

VDB, like Ullrich had the talent, but only rode because there was cash to be made. If either of those guys had the ability to make that kind of living elsewhere, they'd probably be a lot happier.

So which "system" should I blame for the Army Surgeon who killed himself last year? He had a great family, good upbringing, top-notch education, his whole career in front of him...

These things can just happen, and they can happen to anyone. Depression doesn't care how your family raised you. It can contribute to issues that need to be resolved as part of a long-term therapy plan, but nobody's immune, really.

So which "system" should I blame for the Army Surgeon who killed himself last year? He had a great family, good upbringing, top-notch education, his whole career in front of him...

These things can just happen, and they can happen to anyone. Depression doesn't care how your family raised you. It can contribute to issues that need to be resolved as part of a long-term therapy plan, but nobody's immune, really.

True, but VDB got mixed/double messages his whole life and never knew how to sort it out. Your surgeon may have had an unconnected wire, but nobody noticed. I myself went through a rough patch for a few years when I realized my loving parents/siblings were really just a bunch of selfish individuals. Now that I figured that out and made a great family of my own, I have been able to move on. VDB just doesn't have anyone. Hell, his crazy gal just left him to boot.

Boonen, on the other hand, has an upstanding family, was nurtured slowly and found peace within the craziness of being the next big thing. Now he's doing what VDB should have been doing 10 years ago.


You need to read the news more frequently, Boonen's personal trainer has been taken in for questioning in Belgium regarding a huge doping ring.

And since you felt comfortable providing advice in a vacuum I will too - why don't you put your pamphlet down and go out into the real world for a moment. If VDB's suicide attempt was successful I'm sure his daughter would feel better reading your pamphlet in lieu of not having a father for the rest of her life.

I think you are missing the point that I was trying to make. Try to have a little sympathy for the guy instead of kicking him when he is down by calling him selfish.

I think you are missing the point that I was trying to make. Try to have a little sympathy for the guy instead of kicking him when he is down by calling him selfish.

Dude, you're in america, you see a poor homeless man in the street, what do you do?

You make hobo fighting videos and millions for yourself.

Frank VdB now says it was all a mistake by the press, his dog actually attempted suicide.

VDB denies suicide reports
Frank Vandenbroucke firmly denied reports he tried to commit suicide with an overdose of barbiturates. The 32-year-old beleaguered Belgian star said he checked himself into an Italian hospital because he's suffering from depression.

"What's being said is absolutely not true," Vandenbroucke told the Belgian daily Het Laatste Nieuws. "I am very depressed, that's true. Sarah (his wife) wants to leave me, now I am paying the price. But I did not try to commit suicide."

Vandenbroucke, once hailed as the next great Belgian star following his 1999 victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège, has struggled with health problems and doping scandals for the past several years.

Team officials from his Acqua & Sapone-Mokambo squad said Vandenbroucke has been depressed over ongoing problems with his knee. An operation in February sidelined him during last month's Giro d'Italia.

you really have to bring in your america hate and bashing into every thread you can dont you?