Dutch cycling star Amy Pieters in induced coma after crash
The Netherlands' Amy Pieters (right) and Kirsten Wild celebrates on podium after the women's Madison final during the UCI Track Cycling World Championships at Jean-Stablinski velodrome in Roubaix, northern France, on Oct 23, 2021. (File photo: AFP/Francois Lo Presti)
PARIS: Three-time Madison world champion Amy Pieters underwent surgery for head injuries and was placed in an artificial coma after a crash, her SD Worx team said on Friday (Dec 24).
The 30-year-old crashed on Thursday on a training ride in Calpe, Spain, and underwent surgery in nearby Alicante later that day.
"Yesterday Amy Pieters was operated on her head. During this operation, the doctors took away the pressure in her head that was created by the fall. Amy will be kept asleep the coming days," SD Worx said in a statement.
"When the doctors wake her up in a few days, it will be possible to make an assessment of the possible damage. Her family has travelled to the hospital."
Pieters is a specialist in endurance track events.
She has won the Madison world title the last three years with compatriot Kirsten Wild and was crowned European road race champion in 2019.
