Cyclist autopsy cannot put blame on motorcyclist

Lille - An autopsy performed on cyclist Antoine Demoitie, who died after a fall on the Gent-Wevelgem race, was unable to say whether or not the fatal injury was caused by a motorbike, the Dunkirk prosecutor said Thursday.

The 25-year-old was involved in a fall along with three other riders around 150 kilometres (90 miles) into the race on Sunday as it went through Belgium and into northern France.

He was then hit by a race motorbike while on the ground, before being transported first to Ypres hospital and then being transferred to an intensive care unit at Lille, where he succumbed to his injuries.

"The cause of death was due to a blow to the back of the base of the skull which resulted in death by cerebral haemorrhage," prosecutor Eric Fouard told AFP.

"But the pathologist cannot determine if the injury was after the fall of the rider or the clash with the motorbike."

On a black weekend for Belgian cycling, 22-year-old Daan Myngheer died on Monday after suffering a heart attack on the first stage of the Criterium International in Corsica.