Despite repeated attempts to continue his career with a string of different teams from 2000 to 2008, Vandenbroucke's drug use and unpredictability eventually led to his estrangement from the cycling world.

[1] Although Vandenbroucke claimed in an interview in 2009 to have recovered his mental health, he died of a pulmonary embolism in October 2009 at the age of 34.

[2] Frank Vandenbroucke was born in Mouscron[3] and grew up in Ploegsteert, a village in the French-speaking region of Belgium (with facilities for Dutch speakers).

On stage 3, he led the peloton up a steep sprint finish, but was overtaken by Erik Zabel right before the line.

The British magazine Procycling said: "Three years on a contract worth 30 million Belgian francs (£460,000) was a deal beyond VDB's wildest dreams.

He won Het Volk and Liège–Bastogne–Liège before sinking into a doping controversy that was never satisfactorily explained (see below) – even though VDB was cleared by the courts.

When he came back, he showed well in the '99 Vuelta before, remarkably, managing to finish in the front group of the world championship despite fracturing both hands en route.

[10] It was Gaumont's confessions of drug-taking in the team[11] that led to the so-called Cofidis scandal that included a raid by drugs police on Millar's house[12][13] and the British rider's suspension for two years and his disqualification from the world time-trial championship he had won.

[14] Gaumont, Vandenbroucke said in his life story, suggested he take a drug trip by mixing Stilnoct, a sleeping aid, with alcohol.

Vandenbroucke stayed with Lefevère when he started the Quick-Step–Davitamon team in 2003 and he came second to Peter van Petegem in the Tour of Flanders.

[16] In two seasons at the team, he managed just one minor result, ninth on the time trial of the 2006 Three Days of de Panne.

On 4 April 2009[18] he won a stage in the French race La Boucle de l'Artois, on a 15 km time trial, his first win in a UCI-race since 1999.

[19] Vandenbroucke had a daughter (Cameron) with his partner Clotilde Menu in February 1999, but the couple never were married and soon separated.

The following year, Vandenbroucke wed Sarah Pinacci, a former model and hostess with the Italian team, Saeco.

[21] His parents, who run a bar and his supporters' club[n 4] in Ploegsteert – membership dropped from 300 to 145 between 2005 and 2006 although 600 bought "Franky is for ever" T-shirts[21] – said in 2006 that they had heard little from their son since he left Belgium for Italy.

[24] Supporters in the Frankyboys fan club at the café 't Parkske in Oudenaarde said Vandenbroucke had never been to see them, "although he said a couple of times that he would come but then never did.

"[25] The chairman of the Frankyboys, Adelin de Meulemeester, said: "You can see him one day and he'll give you a friendly hello, then the next he won't even notice you [ziet hij je niet staan].

[27] In 2001 he was stopped on the E17 motorway in Belgium in a speeding car[28] shared with Bernard Sainz, the so-called Dr Mabuse of cycling.

[29][30] Sainz could not produce the insurance documents the law insisted he carry[28] and police searched the car and found drugs later identified as clenbuterol, morphine and EPO,[31] which is used in sport as a blood-booster.

[34] The inquiries continued and in December 2004 Vandenbroucke admitted taking growth hormones, EPO, amphetamine, morphine and steroids, although he did not name his suppliers.

[38] The Belgian press agency, Belga, said the court considered a fine suited to "the type of crime and Vandenbroucke's personality.

[n 7] He explained to me that this care was based on natural methods and alternative medicines without endangering my health nor violating the ethics of our sport.

Everybody knows perfectly, starting with the policemen who have listened to me for a long time, that riders don't need me for that sort of thing.

[42] In February 2007, publicity for Vandenbroucke's autobiography, Je ne suis pas Dieu [I'm Not God] said he admitted taking performance-enhancing drugs.

I ran to the bathroom to throw my stock of amphetamines down the toilet and the syringes into the waste bin...Sarah didn't used to see them and tried to get me to understand.

Vandenbroucke had a reputation for "accidents, illnesses, doping allegations, lawsuits, suspicion, surliness and suspensions".

Vandenbroucke had turned down the Giro d'Italia, claiming problems with his knee, on which he had an operation the previous winter.

"[6]Vandenbroucke died on 12 October 2009, while on holiday at Saly, a coastal resort 70 km south of Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

[51] The circumstances remain unclear due to conflicting reports, some saying a combination of drugs was found by his bedside.

"[54] Three people who allegedly stole his personal possessions on the night of his death were arrested,[55] including a woman who had spent the evening with him.