Visma and Soudal hit by double setback after Gent-Wevelgem crash

Laurenz Rex is set to undergo surgery on Tuesday morning in Leuven following his crash last Sunday. After the incident, the Belgian was examined at the University Hospitals Leuven, where an MRI scan revealed a dislocation of his right knee, along with bone and ligament damage.

The crash, just before the peloton entered De Moeren, initially appeared relatively harmless but quickly proved to have serious consequences. Rex was the first rider to hit the ground, likely after an evasive manoeuvre, before being catapulted off the road and into a ditch. The Soudal Quick-Step rider was forced to abandon immediately.

The same incident also brought down Timo Kielich and Max Kanter, both of whom were unable to continue. Kielich, an important part of the Visma | Lease a Bike classics squad supporting Wout van Aert, was diagnosed with a fractured collarbone.

On Monday, he shared an update on Instagram: “Unfortunate crash in yesterday’s ‘In Flanders Fields’ that resulted in a collarbone fracture. A real bummer after a strong start to the season. I hope to get back on the bike soon, but the main focus is on a proper recovery.”

For fellow Belgian Rex, the injuries mark another setback in what has already been a dramatic start to the season. Only weeks ago, the 26-year-old completed a remarkable comeback after fracturing three vertebrae in a high-speed crash at the AlUla Tour.

Despite the severity of that earlier crash, Rex returned far quicker than expected, missing minimal training before lining up at Opening Weekend. He immediately impressed, finishing sixth at Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and following it up with a second place at Le Samyn.

This latest injury, however, is expected to require a significantly longer recovery, with no timeline yet confirmed.