Lotto-Soudal’s Gerben Thijssen ‘able to have small conversation with family’ after Ghent Six Day crash
The 21-year-old suffered an awful crash on the first night of racing and was put in intensive care
Lotto-Soudal rider Gerben Thijssen was “able to have a small conversation with his family” after a crash at the Ghent Six Day left him in intensive care.
The 21-year-old Belgian fell heavily during the opening night of the historic track event, which resulted in the racing behind cut short.
Thijssen was rushed to hospital on Tuesday night (November 12) after suffering three small brain bleeds, three broken ribs and a fractured collarbone, which left him in intensive care.
His condition was reported as stable and Lotto-Soudal confirmed his condition had improved slightly on Wednesday.
The team said: “Fortunately there is some slight optimism. Less than 18 hours after his terrible crash, Gerben was able to have a small conversation with his family.
“Keep fighting Gerben.”
The 2019 Six Day Ghent, held on the iconic Kuipke velodrome, has been marred by serious crashes.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
On Tuesday, Mark Cavendish went down at 70km/h during the one lap time trial, hitting his head and skipping the rest of the race, before Thijssen’s crash at around 11.15pm resulted in the event being cut short.
Then on Wednesday night, para-cyclists Kris Bosmans and Diederick Schelfhout crashed into the stands during the team sprint.
Bosmans suffered a complex fracture to his right leg and will need surgery, Schelfhout fractured a vertebrae and will be treated with stitches, while a spectator also suffered minor injuries and received care on site.
>>> Floyd Landis’s Continental team is folding after one season
Visually impaired rider Larissa Klaassen and her pilot Imke Brommer also fell earlier in the evening, crashing during the 500m time trial and both suffering slight concussion, bruises and scrapes.
Belgian disability sport charity Parantee-Psylos said: “Around 10.25 pm, Kris Bosmans experienced material failure during the team sprint, a discipline in which three Belgian riders competed against three Britons. A pedal crank broke and Kris could not keep his balance. Diederick Schelfhout could not avoid him and both riders fell over the stand in the bend
“We wish everyone a speedy recovery.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
USA Cycling unveils 2025 National Championship schedule with 17 chances to claim the Stars and Stripes jersey
From cycling eSports in February to cyclocross in December, here are the dates and locations for the 2025 season
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tech of the week: A shockingly expensive steel bike from Colnago, a surprisingly affordable carbon bike from Pinarello, DT Swiss energises our cycling lives and Pog's bars are now yours to buy
Colnago's Steelnova is a thing of beauty but you'll pay for the pleasure, while Pinarello's F1 is an inexpensive gateway to the brand. DT Swiss enters the dynamo hub market and Enve brings Pog's cockpit to market
By Luke Friend Published
-
‘Current WorldTour system is killing all the smaller teams,’ says Reinardt Janse van Rensburg
South African ex-Lotto Soudal rider fears more teams could find themselves in B & B Hotels-KTM situation if the system doesn’t change
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Caleb Ewan ‘not going anywhere’ after team's relegation, says Lotto-Soudal
Spokesperson for Belgian team says that Ewan has expressed desire to stay and lead the team in 2023
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It's not been a great Tour for the sprinters’ - Caleb Ewan rues bad luck at the Tour de France after heavy crash on stage 13
Lotto Soudal sprinter involved in nasty crash with a teammate midway through stage into Saint-Étienne
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m still having to pinch myself a little bit, what a ride!' : Reinardt Janse van Rensburg’s journey to a sixth Tour de France
The 33 year old South African rider feared his career was over before Lotto Soudal came calling.
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Lotto Soudal pins Tour de France hopes on 'one of the fastest riders of the peloton', Caleb Ewan
Caleb Ewan, Philippe Gilbert, Andreas Kron and Tim Wellens all make the team's Tour de France lineup
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Racing every race like it's the last of the season: how smaller teams are overperforming this year
Lotto-Soudal and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux have won 11 races between them in 2022 after just 21 in all of last year, so what's going on?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Meet Florian Vermeersch, the history student and local councillor who finished second at Paris-Roubaix
The Lotto Soudal rider on living up to new expectations, the new approach of his team, and how time trialling helps in the Classics
By Adam Becket Published
-
Paris-Roubaix runner-up Florian Vermeersch posts incredible ride to Strava
The 22-year-old Belgian put in an astonishing ride on his 'Hell of the North' debut
By Tim Bonville-Ginn Last updated