"Really devastating news" - Alexander Kristoff shares tribute to compatriot after Andre Drege's tragic death at Tour of Austria

Whilst stage 8 of the 2024 Tour de France was taking place between Semur-en-Auxois and Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises on Saturday afternoon, a tragic and horrific moment at the Tour of Austria sent the cycling world into a state of mourning. 

Team Coop - Repsol's 25-year-old Norwegian rider, Andre Drege was heartbreakingly killed in a crash on one of the descents of the queen stage in Austria. According to reports, the well thought of Drege, was even supposed to be on the move to the World Tour for next season and his sudden death has hit the cycling community incredibly hard.

Post-stage 8 of the Tour de France, arguably the biggest name in Norwegian cycling, four time Tour de France stage winner and two time Norwegian national champion, Alexander Kristoff shared a thought towards his fallen compatriot.

"I just heard it now. I don't really know what happened. But fuck yeah, it's really sad news," the Uno-X Mobility leader told the assembled press. "I knew him a bit. I've been on the national team with him and he was a really good guy. He'd had a good season also and I think he was supposed to become a pro next year, so that is really devastating news."

"He was maybe a bit of quiet guy, but yeah, in the races this year he has been really good and won a lot of races in the 2.2 categories," continues Kristoff, referencing the seven wins added to his palmares in 2024 by Drege already this year. "I think he already signed a contract or was close to signing a pro contract so it is really unbelievable. But this stuff happens and it seems to happen more and more unfortunately."

Once again, all affiliated with CyclingUpToDate would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the friends, family and all who knew Andre Drege at this tragic time.