Ex-rider was only 27 years old
Former professional cyclist, Bart Oegema, passed away on Tuesday according to Wielerland.nl. Oegema, only 27 years old, retired in 2008 from cycling and moved on to a new career in health care. There is no indication as to what the still very young Dutchman died from.
Oegema turned professional as a nineteen year old for the division three squad, Cycling Team Bert Story-Piels. After two seasons with the team and few results, Oegema moved to another Dutch outfit, this time, Team Löwik Meubelen-Tegeltoko.
Another lackluster year saw Oegema back to the amateur ranks for two seasons and a return to form. He won a stage and took third overall at the Tour de la Martinique, then followed that with a win and a runner-up stage finish at the Circuit des Ardennes, netting him 3rd overall. He followed that with a second place finish in Stage 3 of the Giro del Friuli Venezia Giulia.
The still only 24 year old rider was back on form and got a chance to return to the professional ranks in 2008 with P3Transfer-Batavus – the precursor to this year’s ProTeam, Vacansoleil-DCM. The year was another wash, and at the end of the season, Oegema called it quits in cycling and moved on to a new career.