More on Frank Vandenbrouke

This is a cross-section of some of the news coming out of Europe on the death of Frank Vandenbrouke – reactions from friends and teammates, more about his death, memorials and more.

This is a bit of news dump, but here we go:

The European cycling press is still closely covering the news about the death of the Belgian cyclist. It’s said that his image is on the front page of almost all of the newspapers. Many of his friends and former teammates are expressing shock over the news.

• Jef Brouwers, who was Vandenbroucke’s psychologist for many years said, “Nothing suggested that Frank would so suddenly come to his end. Without specific reasons it was difficult lately to have contact with him. He was not stupid, but sat with the great idea that despite all promises (he would not be able to find a team).”
• Hilaire Van der Schueren was the team leader of Vacansoleil and worked with “VDB” at Mr. Bookmaker. “He was a huge cream of a guy and smart. He talked about everything. You could never be mad at him,” he told Sporza. “Frank was not alone. He always wanted friends around him. He needed someone who was holding his hand.”
• Johan Museeuw, who acted as a father figure to Vandenbrouke, expressed shock saying, “I lost a friend. All that time I have a good relationship with him. I have always expressed my unvarnished opinion. The collided sometimes, but we were never mad at each other.”

Many point to the tragedy of his death at this point in his life, when he was just starting to emerge from a long period of darkness. There were rumors that he had found a new professional contract for 2010 just before he left for Senegal.

• Vandenbrouke leaves behind two daughters.
• Vandenbrouke’s last race was riding for Belgium in the World Championships.
• A minute of silence was observed at the start of yesterday’s 76th running of the Sluitingsprijs Putte-Kapellen.

Some are already comparing Vandenbrouke with troubled Italian cyclist Marco Pantani, who died under similar circumstances.

• Le Soir is reporting that sleeping pills, anxiolytics and insulin were at his bedside and that there appears to have been a robbery in his hotel room. They said about about Vandenbrouke, “An exceptional champion, without a doubt the best rider on a bike since Eddy Merckx. He remains in the eyes of Belgium and beyond an exceptional rider, an indefinable star like John McEnroe, Roger Claessen and Marco Pantani.”
• VDB reported arrived at the hotel at 2 o’clock in the morning, drunk and in the company of a woman. He was reportedly sick during the night and had lost consciousness. Later in the night, the woman came to the hotel desk to ask for a towel because he had vomited.

Some news sources are pointing out that doping can increase the risk of pulmonary embolism because of the thickening effect it has on the blood.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday.

Tags: Belgium, cycling, doping, eddy merckx, EPO, Frank Vandenbrouke, Johan Museeuw, marco pantani, vacansoleil, World Championships