Young Italian cyclist in horror crash on Ghent track
The European Track Cycling Championships for youths in Ghent have been marred by a horrible crash of an Italian rider. The youngster has been operated on, with success. He is recovering well, taking into account the circumstances.
"The crash happened during a scratch event", explains Frank Glorieux, CEO of Cycling Vlaanderen who was in the Eddy Merckx cycling centre at the Ghent Blaarmeersen when the accident took place. The unfortunate rider, Lorenzo Gobbo, hit the wooden track with his pedal, after which a splinter perforated his thigh bone and one of his lungs like a spear.
The boy was immediately helped by doctors and was operated on in hospital. "All went well. The splinter was removed", says Glorieux. The victim will remain in intensive care for the moment, but could return to a normal room soon if all goes well. "He is recovering well", Glorieux told the VRT's Radio 1 this afternoon. "His mother and father have arrived and it turns out he has no infections. If he keeps recovering well, he could move to a normal room tomorrow."