"Then I saw a lamppost coming towards me" - Nils Eekhoff reveals nasty injuries and dentist trips following AlUla Tour crash
CyclingWednesday, 26 February 2025 at 05:00
Nils Eekhoff, the 27-year-old Team Picnic PostNL rider, is
on the road to recovery following a high-speed crash at the AlUla Tour last
month. The Dutchman suffered a violent collision with a lamppost during Stage 3,
leaving him with multiple injuries, including a fractured jaw and broken teeth.
In an update on his team's website, Eekhoff reflected on the
terrifying moment.
"I only saw it at the last moment, and then I couldn't
do anything anymore," he explained. "I was blocked. I steered as far
to the right as possible to go around him and ended up with my wheel on the
curb. I managed to keep my balance for a moment, but eventually I fell over.
Then I saw a lamppost coming towards me."
The impact was severe, and as he lay on the ground, he knew
something was wrong.
"I didn't immediately know what the damage was. I had
pain in my jaw, blood in my mouth, and I heard these cracking sounds, so I just
lay there to play it safe. I didn't dare move my neck."
A tough recovery, and an even tougher diet
With his jaw wired shut, eating has become one of the
biggest challenges of Eekhoff’s recovery.
"I am not allowed to chew, only eat and drink liquids.
In the first week I lived on puree, and now I have switched to rice dishes, but
they all have to be pureed. I get all the nutrients I need, but it becomes a
bit monotonous without being able to chew."
Despite the painful setback, his focus remains on getting
back to racing as soon as possible.
"In the beginning you feel the urge to give up, but
then I only thought: I want to come back as soon as possible."
Remarkably, Eekhoff resumed training just four days after
the crash, though he has been restricted to indoor sessions.
"Four days after the crash I started again, but indoors
on the trainer. I also bruised my hand in the crash, so it is better for my
hand to train indoors. That way I also avoid the shocks of the road."
While his recovery timeline remains uncertain, he remains
optimistic about returning to full training.
"If everything goes according to plan, it should be
doable, but it depends on the recovery of my jaw and the next dentist
appointment. Things are going in the right direction. I am in a build-up phase
with my training again. Now it is mainly a matter of waiting to see how things
develop, but I am doing everything I can to be back as soon as possible."
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