In the middle of the cyclo-cross season, Laurent Cailleau left this Sunday, died at the age of 62 by illness, at Sainte-Anne hospital in Toulon. The announcement was made by his wife and daughters yesterday evening.
The Northerner had carved out a respectable track record in the discipline in the 80s and 90s. He became French Amateur Champion in Camors in 1987, during a winter which also saw him win the National Challenge (predecessor of the Coupe de France).
During a career where his main opponents in France were among others Bruno Lebras, Alain Daniel, Daniel Maquet, Didier Martinez, but also the professionals Marc and Yvon Madiot, Christophe Lavainne and Martial Gayant, Laurent Cailleau had notably participated in Five Championships of the World. First among the Juniors with a fourteenth place in Wetzikon in Switzerland in 1980, then four among the Amateurs with the best performance being an eleventh place in the Belgian quagmire of Lembeek in 1986.
He also won the Flanders-Artois cyclo-cross championship ten times, between 1986 and 1997. He notably defended the colors of UV Fourmisienne, ESEG Douai, CC Wasquehal and Julie Nature CC.
DirectVelo sends its condolences to the loved ones of Laurent Cailleau.
His victory at the Mont-Olympe cyclo-cross in Charleville-Mézières in 1990.
