Philippe Gilbert injured by drunk man while out training
The former world champion was in an altercation which resulted in an injury requiring surgery to his left hand.
Philippe Gilbert broke his finger Friday afternoon in an altercation with two drunk men while out on a training ride in Belgium. The BMC rider was riding with teammate Loïc Vliegen when two intoxicated men stepped out of their vehicle and acted aggressively towards Gilbert. The former world champion sustained an injury to the middle finger on his left hand which required surgery.
“Philippe was taken to hospital and underwent surgery to have five pins inserted to secure three small fractures in his middle finger,” said BMC chief medical officer doctor Max Testa. “He is otherwise fine but will need to take a day or two off the bike.”
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The injury is an interruption to Gilbert’s build-up to the Ardennes classics which get underway Sunday April 17 with the Amstel Gold Race. The team said that over the weekend his condition will continue to be assessed but that the recovery should not keep him sidelined for too long. Gilbert was scheduled to race De Brabantse Pijl on April 13, it is unclear whether he will line up on Wednesday for the race that marks the transition from the cobbled classics to the Ardennes.
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The two men who were involved in the alteration were arrested by Belgian police.
