Deaths

Come on! He was 53. Quite the half of male Europeans of this age have health problems with their cardiovascular system.

It's very different from a dead teen active cyclist, or something as Salanson's case.

OK he was 53, but it`s still pretty unusual to die at that age! But leave him, there were 4 other active riders, all except Zanette (33!) were younger than 30!

Dimos said:

Come on! He was 53. Quite the half of male Europeans of this age have health problems with their cardiovascular system.

It's very different from a dead teen active cyclist, or something as Salanson's case.

Guess again. As the captain of the infamous PDM squad in 1986-1989 he was certainly involved in heavy trauma and PED medication. He is lucky to have lived for 15 years in retirement.

Keep your eyes of the 1991 EPO doping overdose victims, Sean Kelly, Martin Early, Steven Rooks, Eric Breukink, Martin Ducrot, Raul Alcula, Gert-Jan Teunnisse---and several others too.

btw: We are at 10 heart failure deaths in the immediate past 22 months, 9 victims under the age of 35.

Dozens more more premature deaths if you go back further.

Marco Ruconi was a 16 year old Italian Junior--the others active or retired pros.

Virenque said:

OK he was 53, but it`s still pretty unusual to die at that age! But leave him, there were 4 other active riders, all except Zanette (33!) were younger than 30!

I have the premature death list at home---and it is shocking and statistically impossible to explain away--other than thru voluntary drug abuse or murder.

Youngest was Rusconi at age 16 (Italian Junior), oldest was a Motorola retiree, age 35ish---now dutchman and national coach and PDM alumni Gerrie K is the oldest in past 20 months.

Conclusion: Pro cylcists are UNINSURABLE for life insurance. Decline!

The instances of premature death in our sport are far, far to high to be simply co-incidental.

Virenque said:

News about Knetemann`s death on Wednesday, who died at 53 while he was fixing his chain, reminds me about all other equal (hearth attack) deaths of retired and active riders in last year or two! First in 2003 was Denis Zanette (active), who died at the dentist! Second was Rusconi, 24 year old amateur, who will turn pro next year (I`m nut sure about that)! Then Fabrice Salanson, young french rider, who was found dead in his room before the start of 2003 Tour of Germany (link)! There are already 4 riders and I remember another two: one retired and one young amateur, but I can`t find them in www.cyclingnews.com archive! So there are 6 riders in less than two years if we exclude Pantani, who died because drugs and JM Jimenez (I still don`t know if his heart stopped because drugs or without them).

I think that`s terrible and I don`t know why nobody is talking and thinking about these deaths, why there were so much deaths in so short time. I don`t know any other sport with that number of natural deaths! Even nobody have mentioned previous deaths when new one happened!

I think the reasons are too much efforts, possible because stimulants and doping help, which tire the hearth and then it suddenly stops! What do you think about that?

Apparently, only a few people care about this tremendous fraud that is all pro-sports. Denial is an excellent solution for ignoring this issue.

Athletes get sick and die every day---but only corporate sponsor themes live on.

If you enjoy soccer, tennis, american football, basketball and baseball, you are watching bi-polar drugged out athletes, exploding into new records and injuries. So too with cyclists.

As Francesco Moser said; "True sport is a myth. Today we have only Gladiator Class".

It is just that today's gladiator dies off the field and away from the stadium.

If great Champion cyclists such as Greg LeMond, Fausto Coppi, Jacques Anquetil, Eddie Plankaert, Andy Hamspten, Franceso Moser, Alex Zulle, all say that everyone dopes---and yet many fans disbelieve them, what hope can there be for change? Denial and apathy rule the day feed all the while by corporate disceptions of sport.

The fans apparently like doping and chose to ignore its dirty underbelly of subcutaneous injections, and resultiing autoimmune system, pituitary, cardio, kidney and liver organ dysfunctions.

I am not trying to deny the involvement of doping in some of these deaths but extreme endurance events like the grand tours can cause some cardiac damage on their own. If you do echocardiographs as soon as the event is over, you can find some very scarey looking results. Effectively non-functioning right ventricles are seen not uncommonly, especially after an athlete has had a bad day but tried to push through it. This sort of damage will surely lead to some minor scarring in the heart muscle which may become a focus for later arrythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The latter is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac deaths.

patch70 said:

I am not trying to deny the involvement of doping in some of these deaths but extreme endurance events like the grand tours can cause some cardiac damage on their own. If you do echocardiographs as soon as the event is over, you can find some very scarey looking results. Effectively non-functioning right ventricles are seen not uncommonly, especially after an athlete has had a bad day but tried to push through it. This sort of damage will surely lead to some minor scarring in the heart muscle which may become a focus for later arrythmias such as ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. The latter is a frequent cause of sudden cardiac deaths.

I do not dispute this. I would be in favor of having echocardiograms posted daily and publicly for all endurance athletes---just so the fans can get closer to the truth vrs the "My rider has a better work ethic myth". (of course, who will pay for it????)

Nevertheless, PED and oxygen boosters, pain killers and stimulants INCREASE the stress and greatly overpower the human body's normal function.

Use and abuse of PEDs in training into order to build an enormous aerobic and muscular base, then again in competitions, only adds to the likelihood of some sort of health problem over time.

In other words making a naturaly extreme event, even more EXTREME via unnatural means.

If not a cardio failure, then bi-polar hormone imbalances or cancerous tumors.

Most athletes seem to fit this profile within 10 years of doping.

You know the names of many of the famous ones already.

Doping in sport is no different than doping for better college entrance exam SAT/ACT test scores, or for an entertainer to "get up for a great performance" that he/she is contracted for. (Judy Garland, Elvis Presley, Jim Morrison, Janice Joplin, et al....)

The issue is not whether to dope, but rather how much, how often. The old dosage frequency dilemma.

As Michele Ferrari would say---"it is not the drug---only the abuse that is unhealthy".

It is all so simple really.

Flyer said:

I have the premature death list at home---and it is shocking and statistically impossible to explain away--other than thru voluntary drug abuse or murder.

Youngest was Rusconi at age 16 (Italian Junior), oldest was a Motorola retiree, age 35ish---now dutchman and national coach and PDM alumni Gerrie K is the oldest in past 20 months.

Conclusion: Pro cylcists are UNINSURABLE for life insurance. Decline!

I will be very happy if you`ll write that list with dates here! I always want it but I couldn`t find some of the riders!

Rusconi was 24! Check it here.

And one question: where did you hear that cyclists are uninsurable? Please write a link if you know where it is writen!

Virenque said:

I will be very happy if you`ll write that list with dates here! I always want it but I couldn`t find some of the riders!

Rusconi was 24! Check it here.

And one question: where did you hear that cyclists are uninsurable? Please write a link if you know where it is writen!

I will schedule out the decendants. There was a 16 year old Italian Junior on my list. There are so many deaths, it is hard for me to memorize all the names. My count is accurate though.

Life Insurance, my opinion only:
----insofar as life insurance goes----it might get "rated" by probably issued, unless the blood work showed use of stimulants or the urine showed a high T/E ratio (testosterone-to-epitestoserone).

If I were an insurer, I would pass on this class of applicants.

[quote="Virenque"]I will be very happy if you`ll write that list with dates here! I always want it but I couldn`t find some of the riders!



OK, here is the tragic list of recent heart failure deaths of competitive cyclists.


1) Denis Zanetti, age 32, January 11, 2003, heart failure at Dentist Office, Teammate of David Rebellin

2) Marco Ceriani, age 16, May 5 2003, Italina Junior, heart attack in race.

3) Fabrice Salanson, age 23, June 3, 2003, died in sleep

4) Marco Rusconi, age 24, November 14, 2003, died while in shopping center

5) Jose Maria Jeminez, age 32, December 6, 2003, died at rest in Psych Hospital where he was being treated for bi-polar disorder

6) Michael Zanoli, age 35, December 29, 2003, died at rest.

7) Marco Pantani, age 34, February 14, 2004, died alone on Valentine's Day, at rest but under the influence of cocaine, etc....

8) Johan Sermon, age 21, February 15, 2004, died in sleep

9) Stive Vermaut, age 28, June 30, 2004, heart failure on easy ride home to wife.

10) Tim Pauwels, age 22, October 2004, heart failure during Pro Cycloscross race

11) Gerrie Knetemann, age 53, November 2, 2004, heart failure whilst fixing his chain onto his mountain bike.


That makes 11 premature deaths in 22 months. That is 6 per year.

That certainly helps to validate the massive trauma and performance doping practices in cycling today.


Lots more deaths if you go back from 2003.

Thanks a lot!

I remember one event when Pantani died: we were skiing in Italy when Pantani died. My family and our company were all shocked and concerned when I told them for Pantani`s and previous deaths in last season. In the next day`s evening I went to the village to check the news on internet for details and I saw that another cyclist died (Sermon)! You can just imagine the scene when I told them that! Specially my mum was very concerned about the sport I train hehe..

Virenque said:

Thanks a lot!

I remember one event when Pantani died: we were skiing in Italy when Pantani died. My family and our company were all shocked and concerned when I told them for Pantani`s and previous deaths in last season. In the next day`s evening I went to the village to check the news on internet for details and I saw that another cyclist died (Sermon)! You can just imagine the scene when I told them that! Specially my mum was very concerned about the sport I train hehe..

You're very welcome.

Correction on Tim Pauwels date of death. It was Sunday, September 26, 2004. He collapsed off his cyclocross bike. His heart beat another 15 minutes, it took ten minutes for help, then he expired.

Pauwels was a serious top-level cyclocross racer.

The cat is way out of the bag now---if you race at UCI level---you are going to die 20-40 years prematurely as a direct result of the powerful hormones, catabolic pain-killer drugs, anemia agents and the like, that you will be forced/seduced into taking on a Daily Basis! No hope without dope.

So too with most pro-sports, especialy American Football.

Did you know that Lance Armstrong's former Junior teammates claim to have been injected 3-4 times per day when racing in Europe????

That is a lot of steroids, growth hormone, insulin, and lord knows what else for a teenager or adult. Rene Wenzel, Angus Fraser and Chris Carmichael prepared the shots for the kids (under 18), Lance INCLUDED. USA Cycling and Wenzel are being sued---Fraser fled to Scotland and Charmichael settled his lawsuit early (paid Greg Strock direct)---to keep Lance out of it, no doubt.

No wonder all three of these guys got gravely ill. Greg Strock, Erich Kaiter and Lance Armstrong. So far, none have died.

Be good and do not let the corporate sponsors mask these tragic deaths.

Interseting thread. You bring up some good points! What age do we think Virenque will die then? No offence intended there!! He is just the obvious rider that springs to mind. Shall we take bets? Its really sad that its come to the stage where 'Deaths' are being talked about as occouring far too often. The UCI should really do some serious research into this, because its seems to many people doing simple things to just be a coincidence. Just a thought, have there been many deaths in the female population of cycling? Lots of males but how many females?

sportzgurl said:

Interseting thread. You bring up some good points! What age do we think Virenque will die then? No offence intended there!! He is just the obvious rider that springs to mind. Shall we take bets? Its really sad that its come to the stage where 'Deaths' are being talked about as occouring far too often. The UCI should really do some serious research into this, because its seems to many people doing simple things to just be a coincidence. Just a thought, have there been many deaths in the female population of cycling? Lots of males but how many females?

I agree it is very sad. But it is also generally accepted by most fans---who chose to project their own beliefs onto athletes/heros and within the sporting communities who need results. Worst of all are the coprorate sponsors who finance and in turn demand advertising exposure. It is a vicious cycle of profit and mortality. Each party is pursuing their own selfish interest as is normal human nature. Sadly, it ends with illness and premature death for some.

When corporation deceive and lie about their doping athletes, that is where the real blame is to be laid. This enables doping to become an accepted practice.

Franceso Moser has it right when he states that pure sport is but a myth. We have Gladiator Class today.

Insofar as UCI and Hein Verbuggen--they have all the data on this doping and health hazard---and the UCI has chosen to represent the commercial interests over the humanity of the athletes. In defense of Heir Hein Verbuggen, he would be sacked if he chose any other course.

Cycling, soccer, football, baseball are certainly not about sport. They are businesses which organize advertising platforms in exchange for a fee. The athletes are a small part of the financial pie and are quite irrelevant to the discussion.

Doping and death is the problem of the athlete---and only the athlete--because nobody else cares---and/or has the power to stop it.

The more that sporting fans understand how commercial (money) interest dominate their show---the better off parents will be at viewing professional athletes in the proper context.

As to Virenque, which one? Not cycling forums Virenque. However, Richard (tricky [censored]) could die any day. So too Alex Zulle or Miguel Indurain, Tony Rominger or Bjarne Riis. I see Eddie Merkx just lost a tremendous amount of weight--and looks better than ever---so who knows how long each guy can go?

Time will tell.

sportzgurl said:

Interseting thread. You bring up some good points! What age do we think Virenque will die then? No offence intended there!! He is just the obvious rider that springs to mind. Shall we take bets? Its really sad that its come to the stage where 'Deaths' are being talked about as occouring far too often. The UCI should really do some serious research into this, because its seems to many people doing simple things to just be a coincidence. Just a thought, have there been many deaths in the female population of cycling? Lots of males but how many females?

Yes it`s really sad that noone is interested in this! I understand UCI isn`t because it`s bad for reputation of sport, but I`m surprised that media is not more interested! Even when new cyclist dies!

Female cycling is not so professional as male and women are in minority! I don`t know for any woman cyclist death..

Virenque said:

Yes it`s really sad that noone is interested in this! I understand UCI isn`t because it`s bad for reputation of sport, but I`m surprised that media is not more interested! Even when new cyclist dies!

Female cycling is not so professional as male and women are in minority! I don`t know for any woman cyclist death..

[censored] Voet mentioned one female.

Connie Meijer, age 25, no date of death.

I guess its like most sports, the male version is alot more high profile. I would have thought that there would have still been around the same pressure put on them to win, in which case the pressure to dope would still be there. I don't know, it brings up an interseting point though, why more men than women.

Its all very well to have a 53 year old man die, but when you get a 16 year old boy having a heart attack.... what is going on?

[quote=" As to Virenque, which one? Not cycling forums Virenque. However, Richard (tricky [censored]) could die any day. So too Alex Zulle or Miguel Indurain, Tony Rominger or Bjarne Riis. I see Eddie Merkx just lost a tremendous amount of weight--and looks better than ever---so who knows how long each guy can go?

Time will tell.[/QUOTE"]
No, not cycling forums Virenque. The Richard Virenque version! Im not that mean! lol 🙂