Candid Van Hooydonck talks about "mysteries" of the heart after forced retirement from cycling

Unlike soccer players, cyclists with heart problems are not allowed to practice their sport at a professional level again. Soccer players often fall by themselves, when no one else is immediately nearby. "The insurance that I have is that if something were to happen again, that device will intervene," the Belgian refers to the defibrillator that was implanted in his chest after the accident. "In cycling, unlike soccer, you don't have control over the circumstances. If something happens to me and I fall, it's immediately dangerous for the riders around me." These uncertainties mean that cyclists with heart problems are not allowed to ride anymore. In the past, Heinrich Haussler and Sonny Colbrelli, among others, left elite sports for this precise reason.

The harsh reality of Van Hooydonck's forced retirement from cycling comes with the mystery surrounding the cause of heart problems in elite sports, which is difficult to pinpoint. "My right ventricle is too large, which has led to arrhythmias. I was examined by the team in December, and nothing was visible," explains the faithful lieutenant of, among others, Wout van Aert. "How something like this can develop in eight months' time, there's just no answer to that."

This uncertainty leads to frustration for Van Hooydonck, who often wonders if he himself had an influence on the functioning of his heart. "Did I maybe train too hard myself? It is certainly not healthy to be exercising for hours on end, sometimes in forty degrees." Now that he himself has been forced to stop cycling, Van Hooydonck worries about his former colleagues. "I would like to know what causes these ailments. It would be worth investigating. Especially for people who are still involved in elite sports now. So that medical professionals know: this is what happens when you do this or that. As it stands, the causes remain a mystery."

Reflecting on the accident, Van Hooydonck also acknowledges the swift emergency response. Resuscitation, cardiac massage and the availability of an AED were crucial in saving his life. "It's a cliché, but I've had all the luck in the world." He claims to have found comfort quite quickly through the birth of his son Alessio. "He made sure that I was only sad for a very short time. It's indescribable what such a little guy can do to you," says the former Jumbo-Visma cyclist.