Belgian cyclist Nathan van Hooydonck has been severely injured in a car accident while driving.

The Jumbo-Visma rider, who helped Jonas Vingegaard win this year’s Tour de France, was said by police to have life-threatening injuries.

His team have confirmed the 27-year-old’s involvement in Tuesday’s crash but not his condition.

Hooydonck was waiting at a junction in the town of Kalhmthout, near Antwerp, with his pregnant wife in the passenger seat when he inadvertently accelerated into traffic.

“A car with two occupants was waiting at the traffic lights at the intersection of Dorpsstraat and Kapelsesteenweg,” Patrick De Smedt, spokesperson for the border police zone, told Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad.

“The driver was resuscitated on site and taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.

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“His pregnant wife who was sitting next to him was not injured but was also taken to hospital for a check-up.”

“We can confirm that earlier today our rider Nathan van Hooydonck became unwell while driving his car, leading to his involvement in a traffic accident,” a team statement said.

“We cannot confirm rumours that his condition is critical. He is undergoing further medical examinations. Thank you all for your messages to Nathan and the team.”

Jumbo-Visma sports director Grischa Niermann told the Sporza portal: “We know that he had an accident and is in hospital. I think he is in an artificial coma.”

Van Hooydonck, who, has been with the Dutch outfit since 2021, last week rode in the Tour of Britain and was set to represent Belgium at the upcoming European road championships.

-Reuters