Young Belgian Talent Jilke Michielsen Mourned at 19

A rider who seemed at one point like a future star is being mourned by Belgian cycling, with 19 year Jilke Michielsen passing away this week.

Still just a teenager, she succumbed to the effects of Ewing sarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

Michielson won national titles in the road race, time trial and track as a youth rider and appeared poised for a big future. However her health then took an unexpected knock.

She explained what happened during the Vive le Vélo show at last year’s Tour de France.

“Two summers ago, I started having a lot of back problems,” she said then.

That pain increased and then she started to feel pain in her legs. She underwent scans and the cancer was discovered.

She underwent treatment and for a while things seemed to be going in the right direction. Michielsen was declared cancer free in the summer of 2024 but, sadly, in early 2025 the disease returned. She was told that treatment could only delay her passing rather than prevent it.

“You sit there for 5 minutes without saying anything,” she stated then on Instagram. But she showed fighting spirit. “Disbelief about how this can happen, but determined that I will do everything to stop it.”

Michielsen’s character and courage is reflected in the fact that despite her illness, she started a biomedical sciences program at the University of Antwerp.

She also spoke publicly about her disease, helping many others with her show of spirit and encouragement.

‘She complained about nothing’

Many tributes are being paid to her, including by Belgian Cycling.

“Rest in peace Jilke Michielsen ” states the national team’s Facebook page.

“We will always remember your beautiful smile, your strong fighting spirit and optimism. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to her family and friends at this difficult time.”

Lore De Schepper is a pro with the AG Insurance Soudal team and recently finished second in the youth classification and 11th overall in the Vuelta Femenina.

She wrote a tribute for Sporza on Michielsen, someone she had become close friends with.

“Last week I still received a message from Jilke to say that she was proud of how well I was doing in the Vuelta. She was watching every day. And now, a week later, she is no longer here. That is such a strange feeling,” she wrote.

“I sincerely hope that we were able to give Jilke enjoyable moments. That she had fun and could think about other things with us for a while.

“I look up so much to how strong Jilke was. When you saw her, she just seemed normal. She complained about nothing, just tried to enjoy every moment as much as possible.

“I wish everyone who was dear to Jilke a lot of strength. I hope everyone takes Jilke’s message to heart: “Don’t complain, just enjoy!”