"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Death at Qatar

This is tragic news:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/7871736.stm

"Belgian cyclist Frederiek Nolf has died in his sleep only hours after riding the fourth stage of the Tour of Qatar.

The 21-year-old was a member of the Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator team, which has now pulled out of the event.

"Our thoughts are with Frederiek's family, his girlfriend and his mates," said a team statement.

As a mark of respect, Thursday's fifth stage has been shortened to 40km and neutralised, meaning that it will not be contested by the riders.

British cyclists Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Roger Hammond and Ben Swift are among the riders involved in the tour, which finishes on 6 February.


Seventeen teams have taken part in the six-day race.
Nolf turned professional in 2008 and the Tour of Qatar was his first race of the new season. He finished 90th in Wednesday's 141-kilometre stage four to Madinat Al Shamal, which Cavendish won.

The cause of death is not yet known, but team manager Christophe Sercu said he was not aware of Nolf having any health problems.

The team has now quit the Qatar tour and returned to Belgium.

The last professional rider to die during a race was France's Fabrice Salancon, who passed away in his sleep at the age of 23 during the Tour of Germany in 2003."

People get their cycling news from the strangest sources.

Heart attack and I'm going out on a HUGE limb by saying it was drug related.

Nice one, cat4ever. I'm sure his family will like to hear that.

I'm betting they don't read this forum.

btw, happy birthday Red Buttons!

Heart attack and I'm going out on a HUGE limb by saying it was drug related.

Well if he had heart issues. Then that could have been what took him. And it doesn't necessarily have to be coupled with drugs of any kind. He could have had warning signs popping up but ignoring them because, well, he's fit.

You don't think of heart related problems when you're in great shape and quite competitive. That's one of the first things a doctor will tell you: "You need to get in better shape. Walk. Eat right. Sleep better. Blah ... blah ... blah." But when you're in top physical form, you think it's something else.

Maybe I over reached.
Maybe it's nerves.
Maybe it's something I ate.
I could be catching a bug.
Etc.

Right and without any evidence that's as likely as it being drug related. Idle speculation in any form is idle speculation.

True. But I'm not going to throw a stone.

People dying sucks. You people in good shape dying sucks. Cyclists dying sucks. Family members dying sucks.

That is all.

We're living in lala land if the immediate thinking is that it is NOT drug related. How many pro cyclists just die in their sleep when it's not drug related? It's going to be a heart attack, most likely from blood thickening due to too many RBC's from EPO. Combine thickened blood with a (probable, due to fitness) low resting heart rate and blood isn't going to the heart. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Heart attack and I'm going out on a HUGE limb by saying it was drug related.

I think aliens killed him

*have as much proof that happened as he took drugs*

We're living in lala land if the immediate thinking is that it is NOT drug related. How many pro cyclists just die in their sleep when it's not drug related?

Can't answer that, but on campus we had a girl die in her sleep recently for no reason.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28813073/

Can't answer that, but on campus we had a girl die in her sleep recently for no reason.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28813073/

People don't die "for no reason." Sometimes it's just harder to find the reason.

Jeeze. I'm still living with a tad bit of fear every day. Even after the Cardiologist cleared me to train and race. There's still that nagging question. Why was the first EKG different from the rest? Did he miss something?

After every tough training session I always stand quietly to listen to my heart. And feel if it's doing anything odd like before. Or if there's an odd sensation and feeling like before.

This news makes me think again.

I read about this before heading to class today and it just happens that the lecture was on calcium signaling in heart and skeletal muscle. People could have defects in these pathways that never materialize into anything physical until they die from it.

We're living in lala land if the immediate thinking is that it is NOT drug related. How many pro cyclists just die in their sleep when it's not drug related? It's going to be a heart attack, most likely from blood thickening due to too many RBC's from EPO. Combine thickened blood with a (probable, due to fitness) low resting heart rate and blood isn't going to the heart. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

Youre wrong.. thats a stroke not a heart attack

lol

Youre wrong.. thats a stroke not a heart attack

lol

You need to research your definition of 'stroke.'

I read about this before heading to class today and it just happens that the lecture was on calcium signaling in heart and skeletal muscle. People could have defects in these pathways that never materialize into anything physical until they die from it.

I think you missed the memo. Everything bad that happens in cycling is because of drugs.





:innocent:

I assume that all great answers have come from jumping to conclusions.

Right and without any evidence that's as likely as it being drug related. Idle speculation in any form is idle speculation.

Ah, but if it weren't for idle speculation, half the posts in BF would not exist.

So I'll add mine. The first thing I though of was blood doping. Too many red blood cells makes the blood thick, add dehydration from the stage effort and you have the perfect conditions for death in your sleep.

We're living in lala land if the immediate thinking is that it is NOT drug related. How many pro cyclists just die in their sleep when it's not drug related? It's going to be a heart attack, most likely from blood thickening due to too many RBC's from EPO. Combine thickened blood with a (probable, due to fitness) low resting heart rate and blood isn't going to the heart. If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.


Jeeze. I'm still living with a tad bit of fear every day. Even after the Cardiologist cleared me to train and race. There's still that nagging question. Why was the first EKG different from the rest? Did he miss something?

After every tough training session I always stand quietly to listen to my heart. And feel if it's doing anything odd like before. Or if there's an odd sensation and feeling like before.

This news makes me think again.

Honestly, you were the first thing I thought of when I read this... Heart issues are heart issues. I don't think it's reasonable to assume that it has to be, or is even necessarily likely to be, because of drug use.

Honestly, you were the first thing I thought of when I read this... Heart issues are heart issues. I don't think it's reasonable to assume that it has to be, or is even necessarily likely to be, because of drug use.

You say this as if you’re sure subby didn’t take any “supplements.” ;)

You say this as if you’re sure subby didn’t take any “supplements.” ;)

:lol:

I assume that all great answers have come from jumping to conclusions.

Hey, if enough posters jump to enough plausible but unsupported conclusions, one of them will probably be right ...

You say this as if you’re sure subby didn’t take any “supplements.” ;)

What are you implying? Flintstones vits aren't gonna thicken my blood.

People don't die "for no reason." Sometimes it's just harder to find the reason.

Ok you're right. Her heart stopped beating. :rolleyes:

What are you implying? Flintstones vits aren't gonna thicken my blood.

I dunno, Wilma is hawt...........

Subs, keep the chin up, the chest out, and keep the faith. Oh, and listen to the Doc.

Ok you're right. Her heart stopped beating. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

:rolleyes:

:roflmao2:

I think you missed the memo. Everything bad that happens in cycling is because of drugs.





:innocent:

Too true :thumb:

Wow, there sure is a fine selection of **** on here. The guy died, your all posting happy faces and thumbs up icons. Nice.

Wow, there sure is a fine selection of **** on here. The guy died, your all posting happy faces and thumbs up icons. Nice.

context

I dunno, Wilma is hawt...........

Subs, keep the chin up, the chest out, and keep the faith. Oh, and listen to the Doc.


Thanks.

What are you implying? Flintstones vits aren't gonna thicken my blood.

Don't forget food. Food is a supplement.

Not the supplements they're talking about.

I was just joking based on some thread you started a while back calling yourself a “recovering meathead” while asking about aromatase inhibitors.

I’m not saying that you use PEDs; but, like me, I’m sure you’ve popped more than Flintstones.

I was just joking based on some thread you started a while back calling yourself a “recovering meathead” while asking about aromatase inhibitors.

I’m not saying that you use PEDs; but, like me, I’m sure you’ve popped more than Flintstones.

Oh, I have. Stuff that would help beef me up.

Ah, but if it weren't for idle speculation, half the posts in BF would not exist.

So I'll add mine. The first thing I though of was blood doping. Too many red blood cells makes the blood thick, add dehydration from the stage effort and you have the perfect conditions for death in your sleep.

This guys dad died at 30 years old because of a HEART CONDITION!!


Stop doing this:


http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/office_space_kit_mat.jpg

This guys dad died at 30 years old because of a HEART CONDITION!!


Stop doing this:


http://www.thinkgeek.com/images/products/additional/large/office_space_kit_mat.jpg

http://i292.photobucket.com/albums/mm21/mike9903/office_space-1.jpg

When it's my time, I hope I'm lucky enough to go in my sleep...

The last professional rider to die during a race was France's Fabrice Salancon, who passed away in his sleep at the age of 23 during the Tour of Germany in 2003."

Incorrect.

LINK (http://www.cyclingnews.com/news.php?id=news/2005/jun05/jun15news3)

Galletti, 2005. Collapsed and died while on the bike during the race - drug rumors flew... evidence too.

We all want it to be drugs because we don't want to think that something like that could happen to us.

We all want it to be drugs because we don't want to think that something like that could happen to us.

There's more than just a little bit of truth in that one. :twitchy:

We all want it to be drugs because we don't want to think that something like that could happen to us.

At nearly 40 years old with documented heart issues, I know my score.

I don't want to die.

you may/may not be surprised by this but there are a lot of athletes have have died from sudden heart attacks. funny that you immediately go to drugs as the reason when i thought of heat and reduced blood volume from possible chronic dehydration. the heat and fatigue along with the possible 'red-herring' event could be the cause as well.

the reality is, sure it have been a drug but let's give these guys the benefit of doubt in these cases. sad news for everyone...

why give them the benefit of the doubt? why speculate at all? at this point it's as likely drugs as it was dehydration.

At nearly 40 years old with documented heart issues, I know my score.

At nearly 50 years old with a maternal grandfather who dropped dead at 53, I'm doing by damnedest to try and keep it from being me. That's why I'm on a bike.

why give them the benefit of the doubt? why speculate at all? at this point it's as likely drugs as it was dehydration.

Really? How do you know?