Jilke Michielsen
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 January 2007 |
| Died | 15 May 2026 (aged 19) |
| Professional team | |
| 2025 | Cycling Team Glabbeek |
Jilke Michielsen (5 January 2007 – 15 May 2026) was a Belgian racing cyclist.[1]
In 2022, she won the Belgian National Road Race Championships in the "rookie" category.[2] That same year, she finished eighth in the youth Tour of Flanders, which was won by Zoe Bäckstedt.[3] In 2023, she won the Belgian National Road Race Championships in the "second-year" category.[4]
At the end of 2023, she was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a terminal bone cancer, though she continued her studies at the University of Antwerp while undergoing chemotherapy.[5] In March 2025, the cancer, this time deemed incurable, returned; she announced in early May 2026 that she was ending chemotherapy, as her body was no longer producing enough red blood cells.[6]
Michielsen died on 15 May 2026, at the age of 19.[7]
References
- ↑ Delstanches, Christophe (15 May 2026). "Jilke Michielsen, ancienne championne de cyclisme, a perdu son combat contre le cancer, à seulement 19 ans". RTBF (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ "La coureuse cycliste Jilke Michielsen décède à 19 ans d'un cancer des os". Starsporttv (in French). 15 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ "Triste nouvelle pour le cyclisme belge: la jeune espoir Jilke Michielsen est décédée à l'âge de 19 ans". L'Avenir (in French). 15 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ "Le monde du cyclisme en deuil: Jilke Michielsen est décédée à l'âge de 19 ans". La Dernière Heure (in French). 15 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ Blériot, Benjamin (15 May 2026). "Jilke Michielsen décède à l'âge de 19 ans". Velo101 (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ François, Anne (15 May 2026). "L'ancienne championne cycliste Jilke Michielsen décède à 19 ans d'un cancer des os". VRT (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2026.
- ↑ Schofield, Will (16 May 2026). "Talented sports star, 19, hailed as 'one of the most promising' dies after cancer battle". Daily Star. Retrieved 18 May 2026.