Belgian race organizer Marc Duquesnoy received a three-month suspended sentence following an incident during the 2019 Grand Prix Alfred Gadenne that resulted in the tragic death of rider Stef Loos.
During the race in the Belgian town of Tournai, Stef Loos and approximately 30 other cyclists deviated from the course and entered open traffic, leading to a collision with a van. The 19-year-old Loos sustained severe head injuries and later succumbed to them.
This week, Duquesnoy faced charges of involuntary manslaughter and involuntary injuries. The court determined that shortcomings in race organization contributed to a significant portion of the peloton veering off the designated course. Insufficient route marshals and inadequate signage were cited as key issues during the hearing in Tournai.
Initially, the prosecution sought a 12-month sentence with six months suspended. Duquesnoy defended himself by arguing that responsibility for the errors should be shared among the various parties involved in hosting the GP Alfred Gadenne. He pointed out that local police had given the race approval, despite the inadequacy of on-course marshals.
Expressing the impact of the tragedy on him, Duquesnoy stated, “I have organized more than 500 races. What happened remains on my heart. But I cannot be responsible and guilty for everything.” He emphasized that the memory of the incident would stay with him for the rest of his life.
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