Double Olympic road cycling champion Remco Evenepoel has sustained multiple broken bones after a collision with a post van.
The Belgian was training in his native country outside of Brussels when he hit a door swung open on Tuesday morning.
The 24-year-old has sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and his right hand, his team confirmed in a statement.
According to national outlet Nieuwsblad, a post lady is said to have suddenly opened her door which Evenepoel hit.
The Olympian remained conscious, as shown by pictures at the roadside of him receiving treatment.
Images also showed his bike’s frame split in half and part of the handlebar broken, displaying the severity of the incident.
Considered one of the best time trialists active in road cycling, Evenepoel followed up that promise with two gold medals at the Paris Olympics.
He finished first in the road race and time trial, adding to his numerous accolades such as multiple world championships and a European championship.
After pictures emerged around midday, Evenepoel’s team, Soudal Quick-Step, confirmed his injuries in a statement.
“Following an incident while training today, Remco Evenepoel was taken to hospital where it was revealed that he has sustained fractures to his rib, right shoulder blade and his right hand,” they wrote.
“Remco was taken to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht shortly after the incident, where he was initially assessed.
“He will now travel to the hospital in Herentals, where alongside the Soudal Quick-Step medical staff, his injuries will be further assessed and the pathway for his recovery decided. We wish him a speedy recovery.”
Evenepoel’s bike sustained some serious damage[/caption]
Passers by also caught the injured cyclist[/caption]
Bpost, the company in charge of the van which the rider hit, also provided a statement.
“We deeply regret what happened and will fully cooperate with the investigation,” a spokesperson said.
“We cannot comment on the exact circumstances of the accident. The police arrived on the scene to make the necessary observations and of course both Bpost and the postman involved will fully cooperate with the investigation.
“The postman in question, a woman, is also very shocked. It is a very unfortunate incident and we sincerely hope that the great cycling champion Remco Evenepoel does not suffer any serious injuries.”
Despite his huge successes, this sadly isn’t the first time Evenepoel has been involved in a serious accident.
In 2020 he fell down an eight metre ravine during the The Tour of Lombardy and was found unconscious and had to be hospitalised with a neck brace.
He later revealed that a fracture in his pelvis was ‘one millimetre from a nerve’ adding: “If that nerve had been hit, I would have had to spend my whole life in a wheelchair.”
The Belgian has had several more high profile crashes including an accident at the Giro d’Italia and another at the Tour of Spain where he collided with a woman after the finish line and sustained a head injury.