The incident occurred at approximately 1:15pm at the intersection of Kruisstraat and Zandstraat. A vehicle travelling straight through traffic lights in the direction of the N60 towards Oudenaarde collided with Bral.
Local mayor Ignace Michaux confirmed the severity of the incident, stating that the young rider was taken away with serious injuries. Despite intensive medical care at Ghent University Hospital, he could not be saved.
At the time of the crash, Bral was reportedly on his way to watch his younger brother Xibe compete at the GP Dries Devenyns in nearby Zulzeke. Spectators at the race were left confused when Xibe suddenly withdrew early, before news of the accident began to emerge.
Team and family pay tribute
Bral was a third-year U23 rider with Dovy Keukens-FCC and had already secured several top ten results this season, underlining his steady progression within the Belgian ranks. He was also part of a deeply rooted cycling family, with his brother already a race winner this year and his father Dimitri a former competitive rider.
In a statement, his team confirmed his passing and paid tribute to both the rider and the person behind the results. “With great sadness, we say goodbye to our rider and team-mate. After his serious accident, he sadly lost his fight and passed away surrounded by his loved ones. Milan was more than a rider – a wonderful person and a valued team-mate. He will be greatly missed and will forever remain part of our team.”
Decision pending over Affligem race
In the immediate aftermath, the team has been left to decide whether it will take part in the GP Affligem on Sunday. Team manager Jochen Deweer explained that the decision would be made collectively with the riders on the morning of the race, as they process the shock of losing a team-mate.
Just hours before his passing, Bral’s family had still been holding onto hope, urging that no one give up on him. By late evening, that hope had turned into grief, marking another deeply painful moment for the cycling community in what has already been a difficult week.