Spectator dies after Belgian feedzone crash

A gust of wind causes a young rider to swerve into the path of a spectator in Belgian race. The woman died from her injuries

The feed zone on stage four of the 2014 Tour de Suisse (Watson)

(Image credit: Watson)

A 54-year-old woman was killed in a racing feedzone in Belgium on Sunday after a rider lost control of his bike in the wind.

The woman, who was the wife of former Tour de France stage winner Ludwig Wijnants, was struck by 18-year-old Jordi Van Dingenen at the Brustem-Sint-Truiden race.

Van Dingenen was riding the race, which is for elite riders without a contract, for the Vastgoedservice - Golden Palace team, whose team leader, Roger Loysch, witnessed the incident.

“I stood on the side, along with Ludwig Wynants and his wife,” Loysch told Sporza. “At the front of the peloton Jordi wanted to give me his jacket. Then suddenly there was a very fierce gust of wind, and he lost control.”

“Van Dingenen rode right [into her] and the blow was quite fierce. She just wanted to provide her son Arne with a water bottle.”

Sporza reports that Ms Wijnants was taken to hospital and operated on immediately but later died of her injuries. Van Dingenen suffered a shoulder injury and concussion.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.