FILE – Belgium’s Nathan van Hooydonck, center, and France’s Christophe Laporte, right, ride with the pack during the ninth stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 182.5 kilometers (113.5 miles) with start in Saint-Leonard-de-Noblat and finish in Puy de Dome, France, on July 9, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)
Belgian cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck of the Jumbo-Visma team was rushed to hospital after losing control of his car at a crossroads in Belgium, local police said Tuesday.
A police spokesman told AFP the 27-year-old professional cyclist was in critical condition and that the hospital was fighting to stabilize him.
Van Hooydonck raced the Tour de France in July, helping his teammate Jonas Vingegaard win the overall title.
On Tuesday he crashed his car in Kalmthout in northern Belgium after feeling unwell at the wheel, hitting five other cars at a crossroads before going to a stop.
Van Hooydonck’s pregnant wife was also in the vehicle but was unhurt.
Jumbo sports director Grischa Niermann told media at the Vuelta a Espana the team’s riders were deeply upset by the news.
“We know he had an accident and is in hospital… I can’t confirm whether or not he’s in mortal danger,” said Niermann.