The Dutch rider used to be a part of Picnic-PostNL’s lead-out educate for sprinter Fabio Jakobsen earlier than happening all through a busy run-in to Tayma Fortress on the Saudi Arabian level race.
Racing within the entrance workforce after a break up within the peloton within the desolate tract crosswinds, Eekhoff used to be pressured to take evasive motion because of a crash in entrance of him. He could not keep at the street in consequence and used to be left with nowhere to move as he ran onto the pavement, hitting a lamppost within the procedure.
The level persisted onwards to a dash end, the place Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) beat Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco-AlUla) to the road. In the meantime, Eekhoff used to be taken to health center by way of ambulance.
“After a rider went down in front of him, Nils had to swerve and headed towards the raised pavement,” Picnic-PostNL introduced in a staff remark. “Trying to unclip and stop himself, he unfortunately had nowhere to go and came off his bike with impact.
“Right away handled by way of race clinical group of workers, Nils used to be taken to health center, the place he underwent additional examinations.”
Picnic-PostNL team doctor Camiel Aldershof gave an update to Eekhoff’s injuries, which will now keep him off the bike for two months.
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“Nils sustained a heavy affect within the crash, and he has damaged one teeth and has a fracture in his jaw,” Aldershof said.
“For now, he has been cleared and discharged by way of the native health center, but if he returns to the Netherlands, we can behavior additional tests on him right here with our experts to discover whether or not any surgical procedure is wanted.
“Due to the nature of his injuries, we estimate that he will be off the bike for six to eight weeks, but of course, this can all change depending on those additional assessments.”
Picnic-PostNL proceed within the AlUla Excursion with Frank van den Broek fighting for the GC in 7th position at 48 seconds down on race chief Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). Fastmen Fabio Jakobsen and John Degenkolb will have to be in rivalry at the ultimate level to the AlUla Camel Cup Observe on Saturday.
