The third stage was called off in Belgium today after a crash involving two motos caused a major pile-up in the bunch. And one victim has been left with an uncertain outlook.
The Lotto-Soudal WorldTour team has released an update on the condition of its Belgian rider Stig Broeckx, saying he is in a coma after his crash at the Belgium Tour this afternoon.
One race moto hit a stationery race moto as the field was descending a climb about 65km into stage 3.
Both motorbikes then hit the field with about 20 riders falling, half of whom were hospitalised.
And having been badly injured when hit from behind by a moto at the Belgian semi classic Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne back in February, he appears to have come of worst of the riders who crashed today.
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He was attended to by medics at the scene of today’s crash before being taken by helicopter to hospital in Aachen, according to team doctor Servaas Bingé.
“It was immediately clear that Stig had incurred a head injury and that he needed to be transported to a neurosurgical centre,” Dr Bingé said in a statement released by the team this evening.
“Together with the race doctor and the medical emergency team we decided to transport him to the hospital of Aachen, which has the necessary infrastructure.
A scan was taken at the hospital and it showed that Stig has two bleedings in his brain. Stig is in a non-induced coma, but for the moment he doesn’t need to undergo surgery.
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He doesn’t have a skull fracture, but he does have a fractured eye socket, which will be further evaluated later. At this point, it is very difficult to give a prognosis about a full recovery. The next 24 hours he will be very closely monitored.”
Manager Marc Sergeant said the team had been “very shaken by all that has happened”.
“Last year our team had very difficult moments after the accident of Kris Boeckmans, exactly three months ago Stig was already hit by a motorbike in Kuurne and a few weeks later the peloton had to cope with the death of Antoine Demoitié.
“This is very hard for all staff members and riders, but even more for the family and friends of Stig.
“We can only hope that there is a positive evolution in the condition of Stig and we will support him and his family the best we can, both medically and emotionally.”
“After the neutralisation, the riders gathered in the team bus and drove to the team hotel where they stayed together to support each other and to talk about what happened.
“After deliberation we informed the organisation that we won’t ride the last stage of the Belgium Tour.
“At the moment it is pointless to make any accusations, but it should have been obvious much longer that structural measures concerning the safety of the riders are necessary.”
The team said it would provide further updates of any significant changes to Broeckx’s condition and thank the “cycling family” for its support.
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