Virtually a 12 months after being pressured to finish his profession following cardiac arrhythmia points that required a defibrillator to be implanted in his chest, Sonny Colbrelli discovered that one other rider, Nathan Van Hooydonck, had met the identical destiny after collapsing whereas driving his automobile.
Medical doctors identified Van Hooydonck with a coronary heart anomaly that additionally required a defibrillator implant (ICD) and ended his profession this week.
Colbrelli was within the eleventh season of his profession and had come off the excessive of successful Paris-Roubaix the earlier 12 months when he collapsed after stage 1 of the Volta a Catalunya.
The Italian had suffered a cardiac arrest and fallen unconscious and, after being resuscitated, he was hospitalised, had the implant and confronted a protracted restoration. The announcement got here months later that Colbrelli needed to retire on the age of 32.
After Van Hooydonck, 27, introduced his retirement on Wednesday, Colbrelli addressed the Belgian rider on Fb:
“I perceive what is going on on in your head, I perceive what you are feeling.
“I perceive the ache – I perceive your solely query why me?
“I understand how it feels to be in that hospital mattress once they let you know that your profession is 90% over, however you do not need to consider it in your head.
“However in these instances we’ve got to be robust and assume that we’re alive – most individuals cannot inform their story… Know that you’re not alone and can by no means be alone… want u all one of the best for ur new life…”
Van Hooydonck reportedly needed to be resuscitated after collapsing whereas driving along with his spouse within the passenger seat in Kalmthout on September 12, 2023. He had misplaced consciousness and crashed into a number of different automobiles however didn’t maintain critical accidents due to the wreck. He was stated to be in life-threatening situation on the scene however, after a number of hours, was declared to be secure.
His teammates together with Jonas Vingegaard and Wout Van Aert “reacted strongly” to the information and had been emotional after the announcement got here that Van Hooydonck’s profession was over.
“My pricey pal and my bodyguard. Despite the fact that I am gonna miss having you by my facet within the bunch, I am most of all joyful you’ll be able to proceed your life along with your spouse and child,” stated Vingegaard in an Instagram publish devoted to the Belgian. “Thanks for all the nice recollections we’ve got collectively.”
“I can say that I’ll lose my greatest teammate. I am having a tough time with it,” stated Van Aert. “He has already had so many setbacks, it’s actually unfair.”