Final stage of Tour of Austria cancelled after Drege’s death

The final stage of the Tour of Austria was cancelled on Sunday after Norwegian cyclist André Drege died in a crash, with organisers instead holding a neutralised race in his memory.

Drege, 25, crashed on a descent from the Grossglockner on Saturday. His death was announced by race organizers after the stage had ended and post-race presentations were cancelled.

“This commemorative race was the express wish of André’s father, his teammates and his entire team,” Tour of Austria director Thomas Pupp said in a statement.

“This gives the entire cycling family the opportunity to take stock of what happened and to honour the memory of André Drege.”

The Tour de France also paid tribute to Drege ahead of the ninth stage in Troyes on Sunday, with riders leading a minute of applause before the race. REUTERS