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news
Transcontinental Race logo.pngUpdated: Transcontinental Race will continue after cyclist killed by hit-and-run driver
Frank Simons, a Dutch cyclist taking part in the Transcontinental Race, has been killed in an incident involving a hit-and-run driver in Belgium. The fatal crash happened at around 3am on Saturday morning at Vergnies near Froidchapelle, close to the French border. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to his tracker, Simons had covered 82.2 kilometres from the start in Geraardsbergen when the incident took place.
The news was announced in a Facebook post by race organisers.
There is a relatively small amount of information being released about the tragic incident, as a police investigation is ongoing.
According to Radio Télévision Belge Francophone, around 3 am GMT emergency services were called to the scene of a collision. Upon arrival, Simons was pronounced dead. Local police are trying to determine the causes of the collision.
A team of Mike Hall’s close colleagues and friends came together to ensure that Transcontinental Race No 5 happened after its founder was killed in March while competing in the Indian-Pacific Wheel Race.
That race was cancelled after Hall's death, and on Saturday there was speculation that similar action would be taken by the organsiser's of the Transcontinental Race.
However, in an update on Saturday evening on Facebook, they confirmed that the event would continue, in line with what his wife said would have been his wishes.
The organisers said: “It is important to us that we respect the wishes of Frank and his family. Frank was an Audax rider, and had applied to race in TCRNo4.
"We understand from Frank’s wife that he would have wanted the race to continue and that everyone racing be able to continue their adventure on the TCRNo5,” said the Transcontinental race team.
“In honour and respect of what we understand to be Frank’s wishes, we currently feel it is appropriate that the TCRNo5 organisation continue to provide the race infrastructure as before, allowing the riders discretion in deciding their own course of action.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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13 comments
As someone who has raced both TCR and Trans-Am I feel terribly for the rider's family, the other racers, and the organisers (especially Anna who has already lost her partner this year!)
when racing, like when driving, we follow simple rules: if we are too tired, we stop; if it's dangerous, we stop.
the fact of the matter is, the driver didn't stop, it's a hit and run. simple as that.
As racers we push our limits, we extend those limits also. but that's no different from those who race at proper speed, who push themselves on descents etc.
we are just as likely to be killed commuting in heavy traffic as we are on some random remote road in the middle of Serbia, we hope that neither happens!
As desperately sad as it is people being killed doing what they love, that thought had crossed my mind as well.
Not really related to this specific incident as we don't really have any details but..... these races involve people deliberately going out on the road in states of near exhaustion. If they were doing that on or in any other mode of transport people here would be going nuts about how dangerous it is.
FTFY.
What do you mean - 'if'? People driving off their box is a regular occurrence.
And you do understand the difference between doing something that endangers yourself and doing something which endangers others?
I remember (hopefully correctly) watching that RAM film and the British guy cycled himself into temporary blindness!
Maybe these things need to change in nature if they continue to use roads, with mandatory rest periods etc. I certainly wouldn't want a death on my hands because someone was literally cycling blind. No doubt someone will be along to tell me that cyclists have the right to be blind and drivers need not to be.
RAAM and the TCR are utterly different - RAAM you have a support car who's job it is to pull you off if you get tired, but TCR is self reliant so most riders are tired after a few days, but this was day 1 so he was on a bit of a late night before some tosser hit him from behind and left him to pass away on the side of the road, how callous can you be to do that ???????
But you come here and defend him and try and blame the rider ???
Where exactly in my post have I defended the driver and blamed the rider? My reply was quoting the previous poster and I simply said I'd seen a film in which these guys potentially took things in dangerous territory. I haven't blamed the rider in THIS accident just pointed out the potential for accidents is high when you push to physical extremes.
It was on the first night, he had only been riding for a couple of hours - so he wasnt "going out on the road in states of near exhaustion".
Lovely guy I had a brief chat with him before the start, very experienced distance rider.
Hit and run driver who happened to turn himself in a couple of days later - manslaughter at the very least
I know it's only a proof read error in the update but please, under the circumstances, change the 'd' for a 'f' in the first paragraph of the update.
Its more insane than just a hit and run . I'm affraid that's not an unforunate luck . this night, there was some locals festifities . Froidchapelle is located just next Chimay , famous for the abbey which brew the trappist beer of the same name . and in the region , when there is festifities ,everybody love to be drunk as hell with the blue one ( 9°)
people here don't care about driving drunk . the speed limit is 90 kmh on country roads here in Belgium but they are rarely respected.
add to that There is no lighting on this road and this happened .
for me the driver is clearly a murderer . driving drunk , speeding on a dark road and run away when you kill someone , give you a premium place in hell.
Hello. It was a HIT-AND-RUN. Car driver is at fault whatever the actual circumstances were. If you are involved in a colision, you stop.
The fact that the driver did a runner suggests that he/she caused the accident.
I agree with:
"The outcome of this depressing loss of life, in a sane world, is greater burden of responsibility and/or restriction on the use of the deathmachines."
Not another one... RIP
Oh man, I'm so sorry for his loved ones
Hope the other riders stay safe but also remember to enjoy what they're doing.