SALY, Senegal, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Belgian cyclist Frank Vandenbroucke, who died on vacation in Senegal, may have suffered a fatal blood clot, authorities said.
Vandenbroucke, 34, died Monday in his hotel room in Senegal and early reports indicated a blood clot may have been the cause, Cyclingnews.com reported Tuesday.
Vandenbroucke turned pro in 1994 with team Lotto and in 1999 won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race and two stages of the Vuelta race. In subsequent years, he won top races in Paris-Nice, Het Volk and Gent-Wevelgem riding for Mapei and Cofidis.
In recent years, however, he suffered from depression, attempted suicide and was questioned by police for alleged drunken-driving and possession of doping products, Cyclingnews reported.
Vandenbroucke this year was back in good physical shape and was searching for a new team, said his friends and his mother, Chantal Vanruymbeke, who spoke with him Sunday.
