Cristian Camilo Muñoz (30), former teammate of Pogačar, dies one week after crash at the Tour du Jura

The cycling world has been shaken by the death of Cristian Camilo Muñoz. The 30-year-old Colombian crashed at the Tour du Jura last week and had been hospitalised ever since. The NU Colombia rider, who previously raced for UAE Team Emirates among others, passed away on Friday morning.

In the race, won by Matthew Riccitello, NU Colombia performed well, with Sergio Henao and Javier Ernesto Jamaica finishing 13th and 14th. Behind them, Muñoz crashed heavily. He required 20 stitches to his left knee before initially leaving hospital on Sunday night. He then travelled to Spain with his teammates for the Vuelta a Asturias. On Tuesday, his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to hospital in Valladolid, where medical staff detected a serious infection requiring specialist care. Despite surgery and the efforts of the medical team, he passed away on Friday morning.

The Colombian Cycling Federation released a statement. "With deep pain and dismay, the Colombian Cycling Federation and its Executive Committee mourn the death of the talented Boyacá athlete Cristian Camilo Muñoz Lancheros. His departure leaves an immense void in Colombian cycling and in the hearts of all those who had the privilege of knowing him. Cristian will be remembered for his dedication, discipline and human quality inside and outside the peloton."

"We extend our deepest condolences to his family, his loved ones, Raúl Mesa, the staff and teammates of NU Colombia, the Boyacá Cycling League and the entire national cycling community, who today mourn the loss of one of its greatest figures. May they find comfort in the memories and the legacy he leaves behind as an athlete and as a person in this time of grief."

After two successful seasons in the junior ranks, Muñoz joined UAE Team Emirates, where he was a teammate of Tadej Pogačar, Juan Ayuso, Alexander Kristoff and Matteo Trentin, among others. He was unable to break through at WorldTour level and returned to the continental circuit with NU Colombia — a team operating at the fourth level of the sport.

NU Colombia had been competing at the Vuelta a Asturias, which began this week, but withdrew from the race following the tragic news. A minute's silence was observed at the race in his honour, and team cars carried a black ribbon in tribute. UAE Team Emirates-XRG, along with many other teams across the peloton, expressed their condolences to Muñoz's family and loved ones.

Fellow Colombian Nairo Auintana dedicates his first win in four years to Munoz. In his post race interview he said "It's truly sad what happened to Cristian Camilo Muñoz. It left me cold"