Two cyclists die in amateur ride ahead of Tour of Flanders

Two amateur cyclists died on Saturday on the "We Ride Flanders" mass ride, organisers announced.

The event is held along the route of Sunday's Tour of Flanders, one of cycling's one-day monuments.

Organisers said a Dutch rider died after feeling unwell on the Taaienberg, a steep climb at the start of the route.

"Despite rapid assistance and resuscitation efforts, the person died of heart failure," said spokesman Gert Van Goolen, in a statement.

The other victim, a French national, was resuscitated after collapsing on the Oude Kwaremont climb. The man was evacuated by helicopter but died in hospital.

The race was diverted during the these incidents.

Entrants can opt to ride as much as 229km or as little as 80km along the route of Sunday's race.

Saturday's ride in Belgium attracted some 15,000 cycling enthusiasts, around 10,000 of whom were foreign nationals, the Belga press agency reported.