ProTeam Van Gils crashes on rest day training ride but continues in Tour de France

Lotto Dstny confirms that Maxim Van Gils has crashed during a training ride on the rest day, this Monday. While descending, he hit a small truck. The Belgian was transferred to hospital. “Luckily no fractures were discovered”, says Lotto Dstny’s team doctor Peter Plessers. “Maxim will take the start in Tuesday’s time trial and wants to reach Paris.” Van Gils was joined by his father for a short training ride, which he often does on a rest day. In a descent, the pair rode behind a small truck which suddenly braked because of an oncoming car making its way up. Both Maxim and his father could not avoid the truck and hit the ground. Both men were transferred to hospital.

“Maxim suffers from shoulder pain”, says team doctor Peter Plessers, “but luckily there are no fractures. He will be able to start in the time trial but of course this isn’t a nice thing, it’s already his third crash in this Tour de France. But Maxim can ride his bike and wants to push on to reach Paris. This again shows how strong and motivated riders are to keep going.”