The year 2026 has begun. But for some, the start of a new year has been rough, such as the 1992 Liege-Bastogne-Liege champion Dirk De Wolf. The 64-year-old retired from professional cycling more than three decades ago, however still maintains a great fitness level. For that reason, he typically spends the first months of the year in Tenerife – a destination with far more welcoming weather than his home Belgium in winter.
However the end of 2025 ended on a low for the 1990 World Championship runner-up who suffered a heavy fall on the final day of the year in Tenerife, Ruben Van Gucht announced during the Sven Nys Grand Prix in Baal. "While we're working on our New Year's greetings, we also extend our best wishes to Dirk De Wolf. Unfortunately, the year ended on a sad note for him."
According to the journalist, De Wolf suffered "a broken knee. The patella... He'll have surgery tomorrow (Friday). He was incredibly sharp. A lot of courage."
"Hopefully, we can help clear our minds a bit with a pleasant afternoon of cross-country racing," concluded Van Gucht on Sporza Live ahead of the Sven Nys Grand Prix.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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