Dimitri De Fauw
Encyclopedia
Dimitri De Fauw was a Belgian professional road and track
bicycle racer. He was born in Ghent
.
De Fauw competed on both the road and track, but is best known for his terrible crash during the 2006 Six Days of Ghent
.
On 26 November, De Fauw collided with Spanish cyclist Isaac Gálvez
during the madison portion of the Six Days of Ghent
cycling event in Belgium
. Both riders fell, though Gálvez crashed into the track's upper railing and was knocked unconscious. While medics resuscitated him at the scene, the Spaniard died of his injuries en route to hospital.
Despite continuing to race as a professional, De Fauw suffered from ongoing depression in the aftermath of Gálvez's death and was haunted by the accident. In an interview the following month, the 25-year-old De Fauw said "I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. Only time can heal my wounds."
De Fauw committed suicide on 6 November 2009 in Belgium, shortly after competing in the Six Days of Grenoble.
Track cycling
Track cycling is a bicycle racing sport usually held on specially built banked tracks or velodromes using track bicycles....
bicycle racer. He was born in Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
.
De Fauw competed on both the road and track, but is best known for his terrible crash during the 2006 Six Days of Ghent
Six Days of Ghent
The Six Days of Ghent is a six-day track cycling race held annually in Ghent, Belgium.It takes place in the Kuipke velodrome in Ghent's Citadelpark.The 2006 event from 21 November to 26 November was marred by the death of one of the riders...
.
On 26 November, De Fauw collided with Spanish cyclist Isaac Gálvez
Isaac Gálvez
Isaac Gálvez López was a Spanish track and road racing cyclist who rode for Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears in the UCI ProTour. He died during the Six Days of Ghent cycling event in Belgium after colliding with Dimitri De Fauw and crashing against the railing. He died from internal bleeding...
during the madison portion of the Six Days of Ghent
Six Days of Ghent
The Six Days of Ghent is a six-day track cycling race held annually in Ghent, Belgium.It takes place in the Kuipke velodrome in Ghent's Citadelpark.The 2006 event from 21 November to 26 November was marred by the death of one of the riders...
cycling event in Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. Both riders fell, though Gálvez crashed into the track's upper railing and was knocked unconscious. While medics resuscitated him at the scene, the Spaniard died of his injuries en route to hospital.
Despite continuing to race as a professional, De Fauw suffered from ongoing depression in the aftermath of Gálvez's death and was haunted by the accident. In an interview the following month, the 25-year-old De Fauw said "I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. Only time can heal my wounds."
De Fauw committed suicide on 6 November 2009 in Belgium, shortly after competing in the Six Days of Grenoble.
External links
- Official website (Dutch)