"DOHA, Qatar -- Belgian cyclist Frederiek Nolf was found dead in his hotel room Thursday, hours before the start of the fifth stage of the Tour of Qatar.

Belgian cycling team Topsport Vlaanderen Mercator said the 21-year-old rider died in his sleep Wednesday night. The cause of death wasn't immediately known.

"We had dinner together last night," team director Jean-Pierre Heyderrickx told reporters, holding back tears. "He was absolutely fine. He was joking and in a good mood."

The team quit the Qatar tour and was returning to Belgium on Thursday.

Nolf was found dead in his bed by his roommate Kristof Gooddaert, the team said.

"We are totally shocked with this news," team manager Christophe Sercu told Belgium's VRT television from Qatar.

He said Nolf had no apparent health problems and appeared fine when he went to bed at 10 p.m. local time on Wednesday.

"There was nothing wrong on Wednesday," Sercu said.

Sercu said each rider on the team is tested every four months for doping and Nolf was drug free.

According to Heyderrickx, Nolf had four medical checkups last year and was in his prime.

Topsport Vlaanderen Mercator is one of the 17 teams taking part in the six-day Tour of Qatar, which ends on Friday.

Topsport is one of the 17 teams taking part in the six-day Tour of Qatar, which ends Friday. "We feel very sorry for the team and the teammates of Frederick," said Magid Al Naimi, secretary general of the Qatar Cycling Federation. "It is bad news ... Death can come suddenly and it happened today."

Nolf made his professional debut with the Topsport team last year and described himself as an all-around rider. "

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"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365
not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the
many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers
were given. Satan - 10."