JOHANNESBURG, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Ryan Cox, one of South Africa's top cyclists, died in Johannesburg early on Wednesday three weeks after receiving an operation in Europe, his club Team Barloworld has announced.

South African Press Association (SAPA) reported that Cox, 28, died in the Kempton Park hospital around 5:00 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday. He underwent a vascular lesion operation in France three weeks ago.

Cox returned to South Africa to recuperate, but his condition deteriorated on Monday, and he was rushed to hospital after the main artery in his left leg burst on Tuesday.

Clint Curtis, who coached the Barloworld rider when he was a junior, said on Tuesday Cox had been having problems with his left leg for some time.

"He sometimes lost the feeling in the leg after cycling and had little power in the leg towards the end of some races.

"Ryan then went to see one of the leading doctors in France. It was found that the artery had, as a consequence of all the cycling, become knotted as sometimes happens to a garden hose," Curtis was quoted as saying by SAPA.

Curtis said the problem often happens to cyclists because they spend so many hours on the bicycles, with their legs bent while pedaling.

"The doctor in France has performed surgery of this type on about 600 cyclists, among them Stuart O'Leary, who has worn the yellow jersey in the Tour de France," he said.

Barloworld on Wednesday cancelled a press conference which was arranged to welcome Robert Hunter, Cox's teammate, back after a very successful Tour de France.

Hunter won a sprinting stage, the first ever stage win by an African rider in the Tour, while Mauricio Soler, a member of the South African sponsored Barloworld team, won the King of the Mountains category.