Tour De Houston: Cyclist Dies During Annual Texas Bike Ride

Authorities say a cyclist participating in an annual Texas bike ride died this weekend after suffering some type of medical emergency.

According to the Houston Chronicle, the tragic incident happened early Sunday during the Tour de Houston, an event which takes which takes riders through some of the city’s oldest neighborhoods in an effort to promote physical fitness and raise funds for Houston’s reforestation program.

Tour officials could not give specifics about the man or how he died but said it was the result of a medical emergency and not a collision with another rider.

It’s the first fatality in the eight-year history of the bicycle ride.

“Despite a phenomenal Tour de Houston with great ridership and extraordinary weather, we are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our riders,” said Susan Christian, director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events and producer of the ride. “Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family.”

The Chron notes that an estimated 5,000 cyclists — including Houston’s Mayor and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis — participated in the event, which offered riders a 20-, 45- or 70-mile route through the city.

Officials said three other people were transported to the hospital during the ride, which is the lowest number the city has ever had.

Another man was in intensive care at a Houston-area hospital after suffering a heart attack on the ride, according to witnesses.

Here is a video on the 2013 Tour De Houston:

Image: SUSAN LEGGETT / Shutterstock.com