Norwegian cyclist André Drege has died after a crash during the Tour of Austria, his team, race organisers and the International Cycling Union said on Saturday.
The 25-year-old Team Coop-Repsol rider crashed in a downhill and suffered fatal injuries, race organisers said.
"André crashed and sustained severe injuries," race organisers said in a statement on social media.
"Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident."
According to race organisers, the rider from the Coop-Repsol team crashed on the descent from the Grossglockner mountain. Details about the accident have yet to emerge.
"The UCI is devastated to learn of the death of professional cyclist André Drege at the Tour of Austria," the UCI said on X.
"Our thoughts are with his family, friends and teammates."
The penultimate stage from St. Johann over the Grossglockner to Kals in East Tyrol was won by Italian Filippo Ganna. The victory ceremony was cancelled.
It was unsure whether Sunday's final stage will take place.
Tributes from teams competing at the Tour de France poured in after the news of Drege's death reached cycling's biggest race.
"It's hard to process what happened, we are all quite in shock," Tour de France leader Tadej Pogacar said.
"This is very sad to hear. My condolences go to his family, teammates and all his loved ones. In the cycling world, we need to take care of each other."
Drege is the latest pro rider to die in competition after Swiss cyclist Gino Mäder last year at the Tour de Suisse.
Belgian rider Wouter Weylandt was killed in a crash on a descent at the Giro d'Italia in May 2011.
Another Belgian rider, Antoine Demoitié, died after crashing at the one-day Gent-Wevelgem race in March 2016, and Michael Goolaerts died after a crash at the 2018 Paris-Rouxbaix.
At the Tour de France, Eritrea's Biniam Girmay won his second stage, edging a tight sprint on stage eight.
"To win one stage is already unbelievable, and winning a second stage while wearing the green jersey even more so," Girmay said.
The tough false flat finish suited his style, and he made the most of it to beat Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie, extending his lead at the top of the rankings for the best sprinter's green jersey.
"Today's finish was perfect for me and I was super confident," Girmay said.
"I guess also then, the Tour de France being one of the hardest races in the world, once you win a stage you become aware that you are amongst the very best and that spurs you on."
Norway's Jonas Abrahamsen embarked on a 160km solo breakaway to extend his lead in the polka dot jersey standings.
His Uno-X Mobility team, the only Norwegian-based team at the Tour, paid tribute to the 25-year-old.
"It is with great sorrow that we at Uno-X Mobility received the news of André Drege's tragic death," the team wrote in a statement.
"Our thoughts and deepest sympathies go out to André's family, friends, loved ones and all his colleagues at Team Coop-Repsol.
"André Drege was a talented and dedicated cyclist, and his passing is a significant loss for the sport.
"In this difficult time, we wish to express our support to all those affected, and we stand together with the Norwegian cycling community."
AP/ABC
