Belgian 'cross champion Niels Albert got hit by a car during training today. A fracture in a metacarpal bone ensures he will be out of competition for two weeks, missing at least one race in all three series, but quite possibly for longer. This effectively ends his chances of winning any of the series.
During a training in Zichem he hit the side mirror of a passing car. The rider thus fractured the trapezoid bone of his left hand, which is one of eight metacarpal bones, the one under the thumb.
"According to a preliminary diagnosis Albert will have to wear plaster for two weeks. It is still unclear for how long he will be out of competition," says his team.
Picture by Patrick Verhoest