Drapac Racing rider gets crucial medical green light
Last month Australian rider Will Walker had a reoccurrence of heart arrhythmia issues, forcing him out of the Tour of the Great South Coast, but his team has confirmed that this won’t affect his second shot at a cycling career.
“His condition is great and we expect he will return to racing at the Tour of Tasmania on the second of October,” Drapac Racing team manager Jonathan Breekveldt told VeloNation.
“The situation was caused by a combination of allergies and the poor condition of his gut. The medical advisors are currently working to accurately identify the triggers of these allergies/intolerances and he is also undertaking a strict diet and detox to rebuild his gut to a healthy state.”
Walker made headline in his first stint as a rider, taking silver in the world under 23 road race championships in Madrid in 2005, then the following year hitting the line first in the Australian road race championships. It appeared a very big career was on the cards but, after three years at Rabobank and one with Fuji Servetto, he walked away from cycling due to health issues.
He was suffering from the condition tachycardia, where his heart rhythm became irregular and varied widely.
It was thought that was the end of his racing, but he finally received the all clear from doctors and returned this year with the Australian Drapac Racing team.
Things worked out well and he won stage eight of the Tour Of Gippsland. However the return of tachycardia on August 15th raised concerns about the future of his career; thankfully, after important precationary medical advice, this appears not to be the case and he will pin on a number again in October.