Dutch ex-cyclist
Lieuwe Westra
, retired since 2017 due to depression, died on Saturday at the age of 40, his biographer Thomas Sijtsma reported in recent hours.
"The ex-cyclist fought with himself in recent years and lost," Sijtsma wrote on the social network Twitter without the cause of death of the athlete, known as
The Beast
, having been disclosed .
However, hours later Sijtsma himself clarified: "Before the ghost stories emerge: Lieuwe Westra had a very bad time in recent months, but as far as is known, it is not a suicide."
Lieuwe Westra was a prominent cyclist in the last decade.
Photo: AFP
His family had informed via Facebook that Westra was found on Saturday afternoon at his company's facilities in Zwaagdijk and, although an attempt was made to revive him, it was impossible, according to Dutch media reports.
"In recent years Lieuwe had gone through hard times. The end of his cycling career and life as a professional were difficult for him. We want to remember him as a cyclist, the Beast, during the happiest moments of his life," they wrote.
Westra, who rode with the Vancansoleil DCM (2009-2013), Astana (2014-2016) and Wanty-Groupe Gobert teams,
was a two-time champion of the Dutch Cycling Time Trial Championship
and won stages in 2012 in Paris-Nice, in the Tour of Catalonia and the Dauphiné in 2014, the year in which he was part of the team of Tour de Astana winner Vincenzo Nibali, as well as De Panne's Driedaagse.
The cyclist put an end to his career at the beginning of 2017 after reporting that he was suffering from depression which, as he explained months later in a television interview, prevented him from continuing to race.
Lieuwe Westra raced for several top teams.
Photo: AFP
Westra will be fired in a small ceremony, according to the family, who have requested respect for their privacy.
His former Vancansoleil teammate Johnny Hogeerland expressed his sadness on Twitter at the death of his compatriot and regretted "not having been able to help more" in recent years.
Source: EFE
