Young cyclist Milan Bral dies aged 21 after training crash in Belgium as cycling rocked by second death in a week

The cycling world has been rocked once again by tragedy, with young Belgian rider Milan Bral dying after a training accident in Ronse on Saturday. The 21-year-old passed away in hospital in Ghent later that evening, just days after the death of former UAE Team Emirates rider Cristian Camilo Muñoz, in another devastating blow to the sport.

Bral, the nephew of former professional Sep Vanmarcke, had been out training when he was struck by a car at a junction near the Hotondberg climb, an area well known to riders in the region. He was transported to hospital in a critical condition and fought for his life for several hours before succumbing to his injuries at around 10:30pm.

The incident occurred at approximately 1:15pm at the intersection of Kruisstraat and Zandstraat. A vehicle travelling straight through traffic lights in the direction of the N60 towards Oudenaarde collided with Bral.

Local mayor Ignace Michaux confirmed the severity of the incident, stating that the young rider was taken away with serious injuries. Despite intensive medical care at Ghent University Hospital, he could not be saved.

At the time of the crash, Bral was reportedly on his way to watch his younger brother Xibe compete at the GP Dries Devenyns in nearby Zulzeke. Spectators at the race were left confused when Xibe suddenly withdrew early, before news of the accident began to emerge.

Bral was a third-year U23 rider with Dovy Keukens-FCC and had already secured several top ten results this season, underlining his steady progression within the Belgian ranks. He was also part of a deeply rooted cycling family, with his brother already a race winner this year and his father Dimitri a former competitive rider.

In a statement, his team confirmed his passing and paid tribute to both the rider and the person behind the results. “With great sadness, we say goodbye to our rider and team-mate. After his serious accident, he sadly lost his fight and passed away surrounded by his loved ones. Milan was more than a rider – a wonderful person and a valued team-mate. He will be greatly missed and will forever remain part of our team.”

In the immediate aftermath, the team has been left to decide whether it will take part in the GP Affligem on Sunday. Team manager Jochen Deweer explained that the decision would be made collectively with the riders on the morning of the race, as they process the shock of losing a team-mate.

Just hours before his passing, Bral’s family had still been holding onto hope, urging that no one give up on him. By late evening, that hope had turned into grief, marking another deeply painful moment for the cycling community in what has already been a difficult week.