Share

Belgian cyclist Cuylits dies

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso - Burkina Faso's Ministry of Sports says Belgian cyclist Gunther Cuylits died from cardiac arrest soon after attending Sunday's closing ceremony for the Tour du Faso.

He was 37.

Cuylits, a former member of Belgium's Landbouwkrediet-Colnago team, had finished eighth in his fourth Tour du Faso.

Jeremy Nion, spokesperson for the Burkina Faso cycling federation, said on Wednesday that Cuylits had "actively" taken part in the ceremony, where he was dancing on stage two hours before collapsing in a restaurant in the capital Ouagadougou.

Nion said that Cuylit's father was expected to arrive in the West African country in the next 48 hours "to visit the place where his son has died" and accompany the body back to Belgium.

The sports ministry said Cuylits was a "great friend" of Burkina Faso.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE