"I woke up in an ambulance" - Florian Vermeersch rescues Thomas Dekker after a training incident
Cycling
Thomas Dekker has stories to tell after this year, but the 2024 is still not over for the man who was arrested for 'indecent behaviour' in the United States this summer. Former pro Dekker was riding out in the company of current pro Florian Vermeersch when glucose dip struck the Dutchman who lost consciousness, toppled from his bike, and was briefly knocked out. Luckily, Vermeersch acted quickly to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
Dekker shared the incident on Instagram. "After a coffee stop, I suffered a dangerous glycogen dip. I woke up in an ambulance. I don't remember much about it, but I fell on my head and was knocked out. Fortunately, Florian acted quickly and took me home by car, which was not far away."
A glucose dip, a sudden drop in blood sugar, can occur after a blood sugar spike, such as from consuming sugar during a coffee break. This happened to 40-year-old Dekker, anyway. He doesn't even remember much of it.
Florian Vermeersch, who transferred from Lotto Dstny to UAE Team Emirates this winter, was a lifesaver. Thanks to his quick intervention, Dekker got home safely, and worse could be avoided. According to Dekker, the incident reminds us of the risks involved in fluctuations in blood sugar levels. "It was a bit of a scare for everyone," Dekker concludes. "Coffee stops are just not good for me," he can add with a wink.
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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