Jumps on familiar trail kills Belarusian coach under Minsk

Valery Gayduk, a distinguished rowing coach of the BSSR, died on July 31 after hitting a suddenly appeared ramp during a cycling workout in a forest near Minsk. Forensic experts determined the cause of death as blunt trauma to the cervical vertebrae, and skid marks at the scene indicate the athlete tried to avoid the collision.

His daughter, Tatyana Gayduk, said her father was preparing for the Khatyn cycling marathon and went out for an early morning ride in the Tsnyansky forest. He routinely used the same trail, which included a descent he knew well and had practiced many times. However, that day an artificial mound crossed almost the entire path, with two pits beside it where the soil for the mound had been dug. Due to the interplay of light and shadow from the trees, the obstacle was completely invisible to a rider coming downhill.

Based on the marks left on the ramp, the cyclist attempted to brake, then lost control of the front wheel and fought to regain steering for nearly eight meters before crashing into a tree. Despite wearing a helmet, he died instantly.

Gayduk would have turned 74 on August 19. His career included training Yekaterina Khodotovich (Karsten) for the 1996 Olympics, where she won gold, and working with the women's eight crew that took bronze. Many of his former students now hold the title of Honored Masters of Sport and continue to compete in European Championship finals.

The daughter questions who built the ramp and why in such a busy area, where people walk their dogs and cyclists ride regularly. She says someone could have been injured on the obstacle any day and demands an explanation of how this became possible on a popular trail.