Cycling: Jan Bakelants (AG2R La Mondiale) was lucky when he fell on the Tour of Lombardy last year. The Belgian flew several meters down over the crash barrier in a descent. Bakelants fractured four vertebrae and seven ribs. Luckily, this horrible accident didn't cause any permanent damage - at least almost. Because now it has been determined that the person concerned has shrunk by one centimetre.
Bakelants and De Plus fell in the same place
Cycling fans love the autumn classic Il Lombardia. The wavy profile invites you to an exciting race. But when it goes uphill, it usually goes downhill again at some point. That was Jan Bakelants (AG2R La Mondiale), as well as Laurens DePlus (Quick-Step Floors) fatality last year. When the descent from Muro di Sormano took a fast right-hand bend, both pros crashed into the guardrail and flew over it. While the doctors at De Plus were able to quickly give the all-clear, Jan Bakelants had long been unclear how badly it had hit him. Video footage shows the moment Laurens De Plus flew over the crash barrier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua-f0ETXO1Q
Comeback with titanium bars in the back
Ultimately, Jan Bakelants sustained seven rib fractures and three vertebral fractures. There was even talk of a career end. Fortunately, the Belgian has made a full recovery and is now back on the bike. However, when testing the seating position, the doctors were able to determine that he was a centimeter shorter. Nonetheless, the 31-year-old is set to make his comeback soon, albeit with titanium bars in his back.
"As it turned out, I am now an inch shorter due to the numerous fractures."