Frank Vandenbroucke – Triumph and Tragedy

The life of Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke was a rollercoaster of triumph and tragedy. Despite his undeniable talent and numerous victories, he never escaped the shadows that haunted him.

I’ve just finished reading the excellent book “God is Dead: the Rise and Fall of Frank Vandenbroucke, Belgian Cycling’s Great Wasted Talent ” by Andy McGrath. Inspired by this book which I will review later, here is an overview of the life of Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, who showed such great potential (he was once tipped to succeed cycling’s all-time great Eddy Merckx) but who met a tragic end at the age of 34.

Frank Vandenbroucke: The Belgian cycling prodigy

Frank Vandenbroucke was born on November 6, 1974, in Mouscron, Belgium, into a family with a deep-rooted passion for cycling. His uncle, Jean-Luc Vandenbroucke, was a professional cyclist and played a significant role in shaping young Frank’s career. In 1991, when he was 17, Vandenbroucke won the Belgian national beginners road championship. The following year he came third in the world junior road championship in Athens. This talent led to him being snapped up as a professional cyclist with the Lotto team in 1993.

A string of victories

His entry into the professional cycling world was nothing short of sensational. Vandenbroucke quickly established himself as one of the most promising young cyclists of his generation. His aggressive racing style, combined with his natural ability, made him a fan favorite. His talent, along with his good looks, earned him the nickname “God”, although during a race his supporters would simply yell “VDB, VDB!”

Between 1993 and 1999 Vandenbroucke won 51 races. One of his most notable achievements came in 1999 when he won the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège race, showcasing his tactical brilliance and raw power. He also won Paris-Nice in 1998, impressing fans with his all-around capabilities. Other significant victories included stages in the Vuelta a España, and he won the 202-km Omloop Het Volk. Here is a list of his victories:

• Liège – Bastogne – Liège (’99)
• GC Paris – Nice (’98)
• Gent – Wevelgem (’98)
• Two stages Vuelta a España (’99)
• Three stages Paris – Nice (’98, ’99)
• Omloop Het Volk (’99)
• GP Ouest France – Plouay (’96)
• Paris-Bruxelles (’95)
• Scheldeprijs (’96)
• Points GC Vuelta a España (’99)
• GC Tour de Luxembourg (’97).

Health problems and inner turmoil

However, despite these successes, Vandenbroucke never fully realized his potential due to the demons that plagued him throughout his career. As his career progressed, so did his personal struggles. He battled a series of health problems, including chronic knee injuries, which significantly hampered his performance. However, the physical issues were only part of the story.

Beneath the surface, Vandenbroucke struggled with severe depression and mental health issues. The pressures of being in the spotlight and his inability to cope with the expectations placed on him led to a downward spiral. Vandenbroucke turned to alcohol and drugs as a means of coping with his inner turmoil, which only exacerbated his problems.

Descent into the dark world of drugs

Vandenbroucke’s life began to unravel in the early 2000s. One of the reasons for his downfall was his close relationship with unlicensed sports doctor Bernard Sainz, who was later jailed for falsely practising medicine and for various doping-related charges. In 2001 a search of Sainz’s car found clenbuterol, morphine and the blood booster EPO. Sainz insisted they were homeopathic products, but then said he had spent the night at Vandenbroucke’s house! The police went on to search Vandenbroucke’s house and found drugs which Vandenbroucke claimed were for his dog. He was banned by the Flemish cycling federation from riding in Belgium for six months.

In 2004 Vandenbroucke admitted taking growth hormones, EPO, amphetamine, morphine and steroids, and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service. He also admitted to being addicted to the sleeping pill Stilnoct. He was frequently stopped by police and found to be driving under the influence of alcohol.

Suicide attempts

Frank Vandenbroucke’s life was marred by a series of personal crises that compounded the pressures of his professional career. He experienced a particularly tough 12 months from August 2004 to August 2005, during which he sank into a deeper depression than ever before. Determined to end his suffering, he planned his suicide with a disturbing calm. He selected a magnum of Château Petrus 1961, the most expensive bottle of wine from his cellar, and drank a toast to what he believed would be his final moments. Having sought advice from a doctor, he decided insulin would be the means to end his life. Vandenbroucke penned a farewell letter, and wearing his world champion’s jersey, injected himself with insulin and lay down on his bed to die. His mother discovered him later that day, saving him from what he had hoped would be his final act.

However, Vandenbroucke’s struggles did not end there. On June 6, 2007, he was admitted to a hospital in Magenta, near Milan, in grave condition, after a second suicide attempt. His manager at the time said that “Frank is all alone. He no longer has his wife, and he lives by himself. There is no longer a team at his side.”

Attempts at revival

Despite his struggles, Vandenbroucke made several attempts to revive his career. He switched teams multiple times, hoping for a fresh start, but each time his efforts were undermined by his ongoing personal battles. In 2006, he joined the small Italian team Unibet.com, but by then, his best days were behind him. Vandenbroucke’s final years in professional cycling were marred by inconsistency and poor performances. He showed flashes of his former brilliance but could never sustain it. His mental health continued to decline, and he became increasingly isolated from the cycling world.

A tragic end for Frank Vandenbroucke

On October 12, 2009, Frank Vandenbroucke’s life came to a tragic end while on vacation in Saly, a coastal resort 70 km south of Dakar, Senegal. He had planned a 12-day stay with former teammate Fabio Polazzi. According to an employee at La Maison Bleue, the hotel where Vandenbroucke was staying, he returned to the hotel at 2 a.m. visibly drunk, accompanied by a Senegalese woman, later identified as a prostitute. At 4 a.m. the woman asked for a mop, saying he had been sick. When Vandenbroucke hadn’t left his room by the afternoon, the hotel staff grew concerned. Forcing entry into his room, he was found dead on his bed. An autopsy revealed that he died from a pulmonary embolism, but the exact circumstances remain unclear due to conflicting reports, with some suggesting drugs and a syringe were found by his bedside.

Following his death, three people were arrested for allegedly stealing his personal belongings, including the woman who had been with him that night. On November 18, 2009, Vandenbroucke’s family announced they did not wish for further tests to determine if drugs were involved. Vandenbroucke’s death sent shockwaves through the cycling community.

Frank Vandenbroucke’s funeral and final resting place

Frank Vandenbroucke’s funeral took place on October 23, 2009, in his hometown of Ploegsteert, Belgium, at the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. The service was a somber event, drawing a large crowd of mourners, including family, friends, fans, and many notable figures from the cycling community. Among those in attendance were former teammates, fellow cyclists, and prominent figures in Belgian sports. The service reflected the deep impact Vandenbroucke had on the cycling world and the affection held for him despite his troubled life. The church was filled to capacity, with hundreds more gathering outside to pay their respects. Vandenbroucke’s coffin, draped in the Belgian national flag, was carried into the church as a sign of his national significance.

After the funeral service, Vandenbroucke was laid to rest in the cemetery of Ploegsteert, the small village where he grew up. His grave became a place of pilgrimage for many cycling fans, a poignant reminder of the life and talent of a rider who, despite his struggles, was cherished by many.

Vandenbroucke’s career statistics

The table below gives his score and ranking for each year from 1993 when he went professional to 2009 when he died. Below it I give a few personal observations.

Some striking observations can be made:

• Rapid progress in the first four years to become the 28th best cyclist in the world
• A fantastic achievement in 1999 to be ranked 3rd in the world
• Only two years later he was ranked a lowly 1978th
• The slight revival in 2003 and 2004
• The virtual disappearance from the cycling world by 2008 when ranked outside the top 4000
• The disparity between being on only three teams between 1993 and 1999, and then changing teams virtually every year from 2000 onwards.

The graphical representation of the points scored per season clearly illustrates his rise and fall:

Final thoughts on Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke

Frank Vandenbroucke’s life was a rollercoaster of triumph and tragedy. Despite his undeniable talent and numerous victories, he could never escape the shadows that haunted him. His story is one of unfulfilled potential, marked by personal struggles that ultimately led to his untimely death.

I was unsure whether to include Vandenbroucke in my list of Remarkable Belgians. Compared to some on the list, his achievements could be seen as fairly minimal: he could ride a bike fast! However, I have decided to include him. One reason is that he had a remarkable talent that goes far beyond pedaling quickly. To win the Liège-Bastogne-Liège race, completing 264 kilometers in 6 hours 25 minutes, was an achievement requiring strength, courage and perseverance. It’s considered one of the most arduous one-day cycling events in the world because of its length and demanding course. The previous year he won Paris-Nice, which is a massive 1,295 kilometers long. It requires cycling for seven days at an average of 185 km per day. No easy feat.

But there’s another meaning of the word “remarkable”. Vandenbroucke made some remarkably poor decisions and surrounded himself with some remarkably disreputable characters such as Bernard Sainz. He had several troubled relationships including a 2000 marriage to former model Sarah Pinacci, which deteriorated into constant fighting. It appears that they could not live together and they could not live apart – forming what those close to them called “a diabolical couple”. She left him in 2006. And let’s not forget that he was cycling in a remarkable era when doping was prevalent, and drugs easy to acquire.

So to sum up, I think that as we remember the cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, it is essential to acknowledge both his achievements on the bike and the challenges he faced off it. They are so closely interlinked that for this troubled sportsman it was simply not possible to experience one without the other.

His life and death certainly highlight the need for greater mental health awareness and support in professional sports. It’s much better now than 20 years ago, but the mental health crisis among athletes is still a huge problem.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. If you remember Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, or have any comments, add them below or drop me a line. Denzil

Denzil Walton

I created Discovering Belgium in 2011 to share the country’s hidden stories, fascinating places, and remarkable people. Through articles, photography, and audio walks, I share discoveries that reveal Belgium beyond the obvious. Hope you enjoy this site.