In a tragic incident that occurred in the center of Kalmthout on Tuesday morning, professional cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck is in critical condition after being involved in a serious traffic accident. The news has shocked the cycling world, especially as Van Hooydonck's wife was pregnant and present at the scene of the accident.
The accident took place around 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of Kapellensteenweg, Statiestraat and Dorpsstraat, when a car waiting at a traffic light suddenly crossed the intersection and hit five vehicles on the other side queuing. According to eyewitnesses, the 27-year-old Jumbo-Visma rider, who was driver of the vehicle that caused the accident apparently felt unwell at the time.
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Van Hooydonck, known for his participation in the team of Wout van Aert, Primoz Roglic and Jonas Vingegaard and for his skills as a master mechanic, upon impact, was trapped in the vehicle and suffered serious injuries that left him in critical condition. He was rushed to the local hospital, where he is being treated by a specialized medical team.
What makes this tragedy even more shocking is that Van Hooydonck's wife was present at the scene of the accident and is pregnant. Her situation has caused great concern and sadness among family and friends.
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The incident has generated a wave of support on social media, with numerous messages from cyclists, teams and fans wishing Nathan Van Hooydonck a speedy recovery and sending their thoughts and prayers to his family at this difficult time.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact causes of the accident and whether there was any negligence involved. In the meantime, the cycling community remains on tenterhooks, awaiting positive news on Nathan Van Hooydonck's recovery.
UPDATE: Sporza have now reported a positive update to the condition of the Jumbo-Visma rider. Whilst he remains in an artificially induced coma as a precaution, no brain damage has been found, with those around Van Hooydonck describing his condition as "hopeful".
UPDATE II: Good news emerge from the Jumbo-Visma camp, revealed in the late afternoon of this Tuesday: "Nathan Van Hooydonck is awake and doesn’t suffer injuries because of the traffic accident earlier today. His health situation is not critical. Further medical examinations have to determine why Nathan became unwell, while driving his car. We want to thank everyone for the messages and the medical staff in the hospital for taking such good care of Nathan and his family."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Nathan Van Hooydonck is awake and doesn’t suffer injuries because of the traffic accident earlier today. His health situation is not critical. Further medical examinations have to determine why Nathan became unwell, while driving his car. We want to thank everyone for the
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