Colombian cyclist Cristian Camilo Munoz has died at age 30 due to an infection from a knee injury sustained in a race. He was hospitalized after the infection worsened following a crash at the Tour du Jura.
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Colombian cyclist Cristian Camilo Munoz has died aged 30 (Nu Colombia/Instagram)
Colombian cyclist Cristian Camilo Munoz has died after a knee injury he sustained in a fall during a race became seriously infected.
The 30-year-old crashed at the Tour du Jura, a French stage race, last Saturday, before heading with his Nu Colombia Continental team to another race, the Vuelta Asturias.
On Tuesday he was admitted to hospital in Vallodolid, where the infection was diagnosed. His condition worsened overnight and he passed away on Friday morning.
His team released a statement on Friday reading: âThe Nu Colombia cycling team is deeply saddened to announce the death of its rider, Cristian Camilo Munoz, which occurred in the last few hours in Europe as a result of medical complications arising from the accident he suffered last Saturday during the Tour du Jura in France.
"Following the crash, Cristian was initially treated at a medical centre, where he received treatment for an injury to his left knee. Once the team arrived in Oviedo, Spain, Cristian was examined again at a clinic, where medical staff detected a difficult-to-treat infection that required further specialist care.
"In the last few hours, his condition deteriorated and, despite all the efforts of the medical team, Cristian passed away on Friday morning."
The entire team withdrew from the Vuelta Asturias ahead of stage two as a result. Spanish outlet La Nueva Espana reported that the race organisers held a minuteâs silence before Fridayâs stage, with the race directorâs car set to be adorned with a black ribbon.
The team, who Munoz joined in 2024, later posted a further tribute to social media. It read: âToday we bid farewell to Cristian Muñoz, a cyclist who turned every kilometre into a show of passion, discipline and heart.
âHis story doesn't stay here and reminds us that dreams are pedalled every day, even when the road heads uphill. We are left with his example, the goals he achieved, and the inspiration he instilled in everyone who saw him race.
âTo his family, friends and all those who admired him from near or far, we send you all our deepest condolences and strength at this time.â
Munoz turned pro in 2017 and raced in his native Colombia for two years before he joined UAE Team Emirates, a WorldTour outfit best known for being the home of . He spent three years there before moving back to Colombia in 2022, racing for EPM before joining Nu Colombia two years ago.
Cristian Camilo Munoz died due to an infection from a knee injury he sustained in a crash during a race.
Cristian Camilo Munoz was 30 years old at the time of his death.
He was injured during the Tour du Jura, a French stage race.
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His best results included a win at the under-23 race, the Giro Ciclistico dâItalia, in 2018, when he also finished seventh overall, and a third-placed finish at the Vuelta a Guatemala last year.
UAE Team Emirates wrote: âWe are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our friend and former colleague Cristian Muñoz. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Descansa en paz Cristian.â