Ellen van Dijk, an influential rider for Lidl-Trek, has suffered a significant setback in her preparation for the Olympic Games due to a training crash earlier this week.
Following the incident, van Dijk was promptly taken to hospital, where scans revealed a fracture in her right ankle, along with other minor injuries. The fracture requires surgery, which is scheduled to be performed early next week in Arnhem by a specialist from the Dutch national federation.
Lidl-Trek and the Dutch federation have already devised a recovery plan that, if the surgery goes well, will allow van Dijk to resume normal training within two weeks. This plan is crucial to keeping her Olympic hopes alive.
Van Dijk expressed her disappointment, saying, “Of course, I am incredibly disappointed. All my efforts are focused on the Olympics, and this is the last thing you want to happen. I am in good hands with the medical and performance staff of both Lidl-Trek and KNWU, and we will do everything we can to ensure I am fit at the start in Paris.”
Post-surgery, van Dijk will be closely monitored by the performance team and medical staff at Lidl-Trek, as well as the national federation. Any further updates on her participation in the Olympic Games will be provided as necessary.
Van Dijk’s team, Lidl-Trek, announced the unfortunate news today, detailing the extent of her injuries and the forthcoming surgery. The crash, which occurred on Monday, has certainly impacted her immediate plans but not her long-term goal of competing in the Olympics.
Despite the setback, van Dijk remains determined to be fit for the start in Paris, with the support of her team and the Dutch federation working diligently on her recovery.
