Heemeryck run over before IRONMAN New Zealand

The Belgian triathlete Pieter Heemeryck He suffered a serious accident while training in bike near Taupō, New Zealand.

Just two kilometres from his accommodation, a driver suddenly hit him, leaving him unable to avoid the impact.

Therefore, he will not be able to compete in the HOMBRE DE HIERRO New Zealand scheduled for this weekend. The Spanish will compete in the same event Mikel Ugarte, with the intention of obtaining the coveted slot for Nice.

A quiet training session was not enough

According to Heemeryck's own statement on social media, he had chosen a route with few people in order to avoid risks and focus on his preparation for the race.

The bike was left with the fork and front wheel destroyed, reflecting the severity of the crash. “I spent the whole week riding on the same street to avoid getting caught in traffic, and suddenly a car decides to push me off the road…”, wrote the triathlete.

Diagnosis: Broken collarbone

Hours after the accident, medical tests confirmed a fractured collarbone.

Although no exact details have been given regarding the type of fracture, immobilization will be mandatory and may last between 6 and 12 weeks depending on the severity.

Now, Heemeryck will have to postpone his season, including the first stop of the T100 Triathlon World Tour in Singapore, which will take place in early April.

Goodbye to Challenge Roth and T100 Vancouver?

The Belgian, who had achieved great results last season, had announced a calendar ambitious with T100 Vancouver in June and Challenge Roth in July.

Now, everything is up in the air. If the recovery drags on, the return to its best level could take until mid-year.

However, there are precedents in other athletes who have been seen to resume training just a week after fracturing their collarbone. It is true that each case is different and requires its own adaptation time.