Car accident: Vingegaard helper Van Hooydonck in hospital

Nathan Van Hooydonck, who helped cycling star Jonas Vingegaard to his second Tour de France victory in July, has been taken to hospital following a road accident in his native Belgium.

Citing the local police, several Belgian media outlets reported that the 27-year-old had to be resuscitated and was then hospitalised in a conscious state. The accident occurred in Kalmthout, north of Antwerp.

Van Hooydonck's team, Jumbo-Visma, confirmed the accident. He had felt uncomfortable behind the wheel, which led to his involvement in the road accident, the team wrote on X, the former Twitter. The team later announced that the professional cyclist himself had not suffered any injuries in the accident. His condition was not critical. Van Hooydonck will undergo further medical examinations to clarify why he suddenly felt unwell.

Accident probably involving at least five cars

Sports director Grischa Niermann, who is currently at the Vuelta in Spain, had already commented on this. "We know that he had an accident and is in hospital. I think he is in an induced coma," said the former German professional cyclist. The team members at the Tour of Spain had reacted quite strongly to the news and it was not easy to race under these circumstances.

Photos in the online edition of the newspaper "Het Laatste Nieuws" show several damaged cars at a road junction. "The driver was resuscitated at the scene and taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition. His pregnant wife, who was sitting next to him, was uninjured but was also taken to hospital," said Patrick De Smedt, spokesman for the border police.

According to media reports, Van Hooydonck is said to have caused the accident involving at least five cars. According to the police, he suddenly felt unwell at the wheel and crossed a red light. In doing so, he drove into several vehicles waiting on the other side of the junction. Three people in the other cars, including a child, suffered minor injuries.

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