The Lotto-Soudal team of Thomas De Gendt and Gert Dockx have provided an update on the condition of the riders following an incident involving the pair in Spain, when they were hit by a car.
“They do not have life-threatening injuries. They will soon be tested on in Belgium,” the statement reads. “It all could have been much worse.”
The team-mates had rented an apartment in Calpe and during one of their training spins, they were hit by a car coming out of a side street.
Dockx and De Gendt outlined on the team’s website how the accident happened. “Thomas was riding to the left of me,” says Dockx. “We saw a car coming from the right and that seemed to stop, but before we realized it hit us.”
“My right leg was hit by the bumper. I can support it, but can hardly walk. I hope I have nothing broken, but must be examined yet again,” says Dockx.
“I have a sore neck, back, wrist and fingers,” De Gendt adds. “I hope that I suffered no serious fractures, but that has yet to be examined. Without our helmets we would certainly have suffered a head injury.”
“We rode on the main road and the car came from a side street, so they had to stop. Our bikes are broken, it all could have been much worse.”
“Kevin Hulsmans, Directeur Sportif at Vastgoedservice, stayed with his team in the same hotel and took us to the hospital. We are grateful to him.”
Lotto-Soudal team doctor Servaas Binge has been in contact with the doctors in the Spanish hospital. “They do not have life-threatening injuries and can be transferred to Belgium.”
“Thomas and Gert will be back soon in Belgium for more tests. Only then will we know how bad the injuries are and how long they will be out.”
The accident follow on from the accident last month in Calpe also involving six riders on the Giant-Alpecin team, where the riders were hit by a car being driven on the wrong side of the road.
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