Grace Verbeke (Topsport Vlaanderen 2012-Ridley) has suffered a fractured eye socket after being hit by a truck while out on a training ride. According to her team’s Facebook page, the 26-year-old former Ronde van Vlaanderen winner was passing through the town of Gistel in her native West Flanders when she was hit.
She was initially reported to have lost consciousness – although this may not have been the case – and suffered cuts and heavy bruises to her face, pelvis and leg but, other than her eye socket, suffered no further fractures.
“She was never in danger and never lost consciousness," Verbeke’s father told Sporza. "She is still undergoing additional tests in the hospital in Ostend.”
Verbeke is the top-ranked Belgian woman cyclist, and is so far the only Belgian woman to have won the Ronde van Vlaanderen. This season she won a number of Belgian races, including last month’s Lotto Cycling Cup finale in Breendonk; she was recently awarded the 2011 Flandrienne trophy as the best Belgian rider of the year.
Gistel, where the accident occurred, is situated on the main intersection of the N33 and N367 roads, but is most famous in cycling circles as the hometown of pre-war Tour de France winner Sylvère Maes and Classics legend Johan Museeuw.