American professional cyclo-cross racer, Amy Dombrowski, was killed on Thursday when she was fatally struck by a truck while training in the Belgian municipality, Sint-Katelijne-Waver. Dombrowski’s cycling team, the Young Telenet-Fidea Squad, was the first to publicly share the breaking news via Twitter. Then, another report confirming the fatal accident began circulating on the Belgian news’ site, Vandaag.be.
Dombrowski’s Belgium-based cycling team also released an online statement providing the details that attributed to the accident. According to the statement, she was actually doing a motor-pacing exercise on the road at the time of the accident. “Amy was doing a workout behind a scooter when around 4:00 pm, a collision occurred with a truck in Sint-Katelijne-Waver. The driver of the motorcycle miraculously escaped the accident but, for Amy, the consequences of the impact were so great that she succumbed.” She had just arrived in Belgium two days prior to the accident.
While Dombrowski’s life was ultimately curtailed, she achieved a pivotal level of success, marked by a number of laudable accomplishments. Dombrowski was declared a “three-time under-23 National Cyclo-Cross Champion.” She was also considered a female pioneer for cyclo-cross, breaking competitive barriers in a sport where women have not yet been internationally embraced.
In 2012 when she joined the Young Telenet-Fidea squad, she was actually one of the first females to be added to a major Belgian cycling squad. VeloNews also reported that Dombrowski was on the path to changing the way female cyclists are accepted in Belgium. Fans where quite fond of her, and considered her races some of the most exhilarating to watch.
“Any time anyone falls victim of that sort of dangerous training environment, it’s tough for all of us,” remarked
Garmin-Sharp Professional Cycling Team CEO, Jonathon Vaughters. “We know the risks and live with that and hope nothing happens, but sometimes it does,” admitted Vaughters. He also took to Twitter to offer his condolences.
So sorry to read about Amy Dombrowski. Prayers for her family.
— Jonathan Vaughters (@Vaughters) October 3, 2013
VeloNews, the official journal of competitive cycling, also chimed in on Twitter in wake of Dombrowski’s untimely death. The Boulder, Colorado-based publication company has also announced that friends of Dombrowski have collaborated and established a memorial fund to aid the family in this time of bereavement.
Remembering Amy Dombroski's career, in photos: http://t.co/oPJfnRNKRZ
— VeloNews (@velonews) October 3, 2013
Friends of Amy Dombroski have established a memorial fund. http://t.co/2EtaAUiG45
— VeloNews (@velonews) October 3, 2013
Image via Twitter | Amy Dombrowski