Stijn Steels fractures vertebrae in crash on first night of Gent Six Day

Stijn Steels of Belgium and Team Caruur is treated by the medical service after his fall during the Gent Six Day 2022
Stijn Steels of Belgium and Team Caruur is treated by the medical service after his fall during the Gent Six Day 2022 (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

The opening Madison of the 100th Gent Six Day was interrupted on Tuesday by a heavy crash, with Stijn Steels sustaining injuries including fractured vertebrae. 

The pile-up came midway through the first major point-scoring event of the evening for the elite men's field. Jules Hesters and Tim Torn Teutenberg, racing in the yellow of Sport Vlaanderen, botched an exchange and both came down.

Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.