The driver of a neutral service car who hit New Zealand rider Jesse Sergent in last year’s Tour of Flanders has been fined €150 by a Belgian magistrates court in Oudenaarde.

Sergent who was riding for Trek-Factory Racing at the time was in the main break when he was hit by the Shimano neutral service car which was trying to overtake the group. The collision took place with 107 kilometres left to race.

Sergent was badly injured in the crash and was off the bike for several months. He required three operations to return to cycling.

He signed for AG2R-La Mondiale at the start of the year but announced his retirement from the sport during the summer. The Tour de Suisse was his last race.

“That day will be in my memory for the rest of my life. It’s a burden that weighs heavy on my shoulders,” the driver told Het Laatste Nieuws afterwards.

Sergent started his professional career with Team RadioShack in 2011. Amongst his best results were overall wins in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen and the Tour du Poitou Charentes. He also won a bronze medal in the team pursuit at the 2012 Olympics in London.

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