Cycling: Cycling mourns the loss of Nicolas Portal. The Frenchman died of a heart attack in Andorra at the age of 40.
Ineos confirms the death of Nicolas Portal
Nicolas Portal is no longer alive. The Frenchman - as reported by the Gazzetta dello Sport in the early evening - died of a heart attack in his adopted home of Andorra. The only 40-year-old has been active in cycling for the past few years as a sports director for the Sky and Ineos teams. A few hours ago, Team Ineos also confirmed the death of Nicolas Portal via social media.
Press release from Team Ineos:
"We are all overcome with sadness at this terrible news and would ask everyone to respect the family's privacy at this difficult time. RIP Nico – Your spirit will always be with us and you will always be in our hearts.”
End of career due to heart problems
Nicolas Portal is also known to older cycling fans as an active professional cyclist. His career began in 2001 when he was allowed to get a taste of professional life as a stagiaire in the Ag2r Prévoyance team. He convinced the team management so much that the French team then signed him up. He later signed with Caisse d'Epargne and with the Sky team. After the end of his career in 2010 - which was forced by heart problems - he changed to the management team there. He was active as a sports director until his death. With him as sporting director, Sky and Ineos won the Tour de France several times.
It is with the greatest sadness that we announce the passing of our much loved team mate, colleague and friend Nico Portal who died suddenly this afternoon at his home in Andorra.
- Team INEOS (@TeamINEOS) March 3, 2020