MICHAEL Goolaerts' team were anxiously awaiting a medical update on Sunday night after the cyclist was airlifted to hospital having suffered a suspected heart attack.

The 23-year-old Belgian received CPR at the roadside following a crash in the 257-kilometre Paris-Roubaix race, an event held over challenging terrain and dubbed the 'Hell of the North'.

As they waited for news from the hospital in Lille, the Veranda's Willems-Crelan-Charles team urged people not to speculate about Goolaerts' condition.

In a tweet from their official account, the team said: "No update on Michael Goolaerts yet. We kindly ask to refrain from speculation as we wait for an update on his situation.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends now. Thank you for the kind messages."

Goolaerts' situation marred a race which was won by world champion Peter Sagan, who had never before made the top five in six attempts.