Niels Albert retires from (cross) racing

[Bruce K]

Heart disrythmia from an infection he had

Damn shame

BK

[p nut]

Too bad. Enjoyed watching him and Nys go at it.

[eBAUMANN]

oh wow, this is terrible news…he will be missed!

[gavingould]

saw this news early today - super bummer. glad i saw him race at Louisville Worlds; ran into him in the airport a couple days later and got a bro-photo.

[bobswire]

Wow, that came out of the blue. What a shame and loss for cycling as well as him.
His health is paramount but I'm surprised there was no previous episodes or signs of arrhythmia.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/niels-albert-ends-cyclo-cross-career-due-to-heart-problems

[nathanong87]

good night sweet prince.

http://cdn3.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1851877/fotovb.png

[nooneline]

I was never much of a fan of his. He embodied dysfunctional threshold power - a rider who's fast as hell but sometimes just can't get his head in the game. Seemed to me that he was never all that good unless he had 20 seconds on anybody else - and then he was brilliant!

But, still, damn, retiring at 28 because of heart problems.

That's a huge bummer for the sport.

[1X10]

He had a diesel engine that really showed in the dunes!!

Some really GOOD victories and battles...@28 that is a bugger but if the heart says no then cross is definitely not the place to push the envelope!!

Another void in the front row:confused:

[jakers]

My favorite, huge bummer

[ceolwulf]

Very unfortunate. Who is going to be Nys's nemesis now?

(Would like Rob Peeters for that position but not confident he can do it.)

[nooneline]

There's definitely a bit of a void at the top. Sad that Boom, Stybar, and now Albert are outta the game.

Vantornout is good for some wins; hopefully Pauwels will be again. Tom Meeusen's had some good wins. Van Der Haar is obviously at the top level right now. Wout Van Aert and Mathieu Van Der Poel are young riders that it'll be exciting to watch mature.

It would be great if Francis Mourey got invites to the Superprestige and bpost bank trofee.

[stev0]

it's a real shame. loved watching him race.

is Stybar now completely out of CX?
Thought his performance at worlds might convince OPQS otherwise..