Updated 17:00 | Published at 4:01 p.m
Nathan Van Hooydonck’s condition is life-threatening.
The Belgian is suspected of having suffered a heart attack while driving.
– Our thoughts are with him and his girlfriend, says Jumbo-Visma’s sports manager Grischa Niermann.
The site Sporza and other Belgian media write that Van Hooydonck’s condition is critical after the accident in Antwerp.
According to the police, it is suspected that the professional cyclist suffered a heart attack behind the wheel, which caused the gas pedal to be depressed.
It reportedly led to a collision between five cars before the unconscious Van Hooydonck was revived by the police.
Life threatening condition
He was rushed to Antwerp University Hospital along with his heavily pregnant wife who was in the passenger seat during the accident.
– The driver was revived and taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. His pregnant wife, who was sitting next to him, was not injured but was also taken to hospital for a check-up, a police spokesperson said The newspapaer.
None of the other drivers suffered more than minor injuries.
full screen Nathan Van Hooydonck. Photo: Daniel Cole/AP
“Horrible news”
Nathan van Hooydonck is 27 years old and rides for one of the world’s biggest teams, Jumbo-Visma.
Therefore, there was no happy mood in the team before Tuesday’s 16th stage of the Vuelta a España. The thoughts were somewhere else entirely, says sports manager Grischa Niermann.
– This is very, very terrible news for us. Especially for the cyclists. Of course, our thoughts are with him and his girlfriend, says Niermann according to Global Cycling Network.
Several big tours
Van Hooydonck has been in two of the three grand tours.
He has finished 82nd and 114th in the Vuelta a España and this summer he was 93rd in the Tour de France.
Next week he would have gone to the European Championships in the Netherlands.
2023-09-12 14:03:00
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