Rising Star of Belgian Cycling Igor Decraene Dies In Apparent Suicide

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Igor Decraene dies belgian cycling world junio champion

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Belgian cyclist Igor Decraene, the junior world time-trial champion, has died at 18 years old in an apparent suicide, AFP reports.

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"A native of Waregem in northern Belgium, Decraene killed himself not far from there at Zulte, the Belga news agency said without giving further details," AFP said.

The Belgian Cycling Federation confirmed the news on its website.

Decraene won the world title in the time trial for juniors in 2013 in Florence, Italy.

He was set to ride with one of professional cycling's biggest teams, Omega Pharma-Quick Step.

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He was to take part in the world championships in Ponferrada, Spain, in September.

Several teams, riders, and coaches expressed their condolences on social media: