Former Belgian champion crashes and ruptures a kidney in his last professional race
The Sluitingsprijs Putte Kapellen was supposed to be a happy occasion for 2003 Belgian champion Geert Omloop (Palmans-Cras). The “Closing race” brought the curtain down on the Belgian season as usual, but also to the 36-year-old’s 15-year-career. Unfortunately though, a crash four laps from the end saw him finish in extreme pain; he was later diagnosed with a ruptured kidney.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this way on a bicycle,” he said to the Gazet van Antwerpen, “but to abandon my last race as a rider was not an option.”
He finished the race in tears, but not those that would normally be expected of a retiring rider; instead they were tears of pain. “There is no place for other emotions now,” he said, “the pain is unbearable.”
Omloop was taken directly to hospital in Brasschaat, where the ruptured kidney was diagnosed, and is currently in intensive care.
“At first we thought it was just a problem with his back muscles,” Omloop’s father Marcel explained, “but after the race he had blood in his urine, which meant it was necessary to take him to hospital for further examination. We wanted to take him to the hospital in Herentals but it was too far. In Brassschat Geert was quickly taken into intensive care, there was apparently a tear to his kidney.
“We’re waiting to see if surgery is necessary,” he added, “Geert will likely stay in intensive care for some time before he can be transferred to the hospital in Herentals for further rehabilitation.”
Possibly one of the most appropriately named Belgian cyclists, Omloop (whose name mean’s lap or circuit) turned professional as a trainee for the small Belgian Rotan Spiessens team at the end of 1995. He spent most of his career with second division and Continental level Belgian teams, but his biggest year by far was 2003, while riding for first division Palmans-Collsrop-Mr Bookmaker.be, when he won the Belgian road race title.