Dutch pro cyclist Robert de Greef dies of brain haemorrhage after suffering heart attack mid-race

Dutch pro cyclist Robbert de Greef has died in hospital, four weeks after suffering a heart attack during a race in Belgium.

The 27-year-old, who rode for UCI Professional Continental outfit Alecto Cycling Team, suffered cardiac arrest on a cobbled sector early in the Omloop van de Braakman one-day race on March 30.

Paramedics administered CPR to him for several hours and he was then taken to a hospital in Antwerp where he was placed in an induced coma for 48 hours.

De Greef spent the following three weeks in critical condition and yesterday his team announced that he had died of a brain haemorrhage on Thursday night.

"Unfortunately we have to confirm with great sorrow that Robbert died last night due to complications after his cardiac arrest," read a statement. "Thanks for everything Robbert, we will never forget you."

A professional cyclist since 2013, de Greef secured his best ever result just last month in the Ronde van Drenthe, where he finished second to Direct Energie’s Pim Lighart.