Verandas Willems-Crelan rider Michael Goolaerts, have confirmed that their rider Michael Goolaerts, who was given cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) after crashing at Paris-Roubaix, died in hospital on Sunday evening.

The 23-year-old Belgian had been airlifted to hospital in Lille after the crash which happened on the second of the 29 sectors of pavé used in the 257-kilometre race.

In a statement on Sunday evening, the Belgian UCI Professional Continrntal team said: “It is with unimaginable sadness that we have to communicate the passing of our rider and friend Michael Goolaerts.

“He passed away on Sunday evening at 22.40 in Lille hospital in the presence of his family members and loved ones, who we keep in our thoughts. He died of cardiac arrest, all medical assistance was to no avail.”​