Driver hits Quick Step duo training in South Africa

A truck hit Quick Step’s Laurens De Plus (Belgium) and Petr Vakoc (Czech Republic) from behind while the duo was training with teammate Bob Jungels (Luxembourg) in South Africa on Thursday. De Plus suffered multiple contusions along with minor pulmonary and kidney contusions, while Vakoc requires surgery for several fractures of the vertebrae.

Team trainer Koen Pelgrim immediately attended to the duo, who stayed conscious. They were then transported to the Mediclinic Nelspruit.

Jungels recounted the accident: “The three of us were out training, when suddenly I heard a loud noise and then in the following second I saw Laurens and Petr on the ground. I did not see the truck coming from behind, but it must have hit them with the left front mirror or even the front left part. I ran to them and could see they were injured, so I did not dare to move them.”
De Plus posted a photo of the trio on his Twitter account on January 20 and Jungels had posted another photo of the threesome on his Twitter the day of the accident.

2 weeks of training in this beautiful piece of nature! South Africa with dem boyz @PetrVakoc @BobJungels #wakawaka pic.twitter.com/tdhKuFUtrv

— Laurens De Plus (@LaurensDePlus) January 21, 2018

Brothers in arms❤️ pic.twitter.com/FoOX8e0WMs

— Bob Jungels (@BobJungels) January 25, 2018

Vakoc was slated for the Ardennes Classics, but his early season plans appear to be scuppered. Jungels’ first race remains February 10’s Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia Costa Calida in Spain.