Updated: De Jong will miss Worlds. See our update below.
With one quick fall while in the lead at the 2017 Hoogerheide World Cup, 2016 Cyclocross World Champion Thalita de Jong’s title defense hopes came crashing down.
Zware crash Wereldkampioene #ThalitadeJong #Hoogerheide
WK CYLCECROSS IN GEVAAR – hopelijk gaat het goed komen! 🌺 pic.twitter.com/6HU3nMvRjy
— Freddy Rosink (@freddyrosink) January 22, 2017
While her bike lay on the course, De Jong remained on the ground, hidden from cameras behind a tree. She hit her knee on the frozen ground, and couldn’t pedal with any strength and left the race.
Afterwards, De Jong was taken to the hospital to determine the extent of her injuries, and had an MRI today.
Waiting in the hospital for results of photo's. Crashed hard in Hoogerheide.
I will let you know when I know more….. 😢 #knee #lotofpain pic.twitter.com/urSjoPq0Ze— Thalita de Jong (@ThalitadeJong) January 22, 2017
Going home like this.
Tomorrow back for MRI scan and echo.. 😐 pic.twitter.com/7Z4tgo9nRO— Thalita de Jong (@ThalitadeJong) January 22, 2017
Today it was revealed she has fluid in her knee, and a small tear in her quadriceps muscle, casting doubt ending any hopes of defending her rainbow jersey in Bieles, Luxembourg. De Jong will need four weeks to recover from the injury if surgery is avoided, KNWU reports, but will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
De Jong had a strong start to her season including winning the 2016 Valkenburg World Cup, but coinciding with the resurgence of Marianne Vos, we haven’t seen the current World Champion at the front of the races recently. Although it’s been an amazing, competitive year for women’s cyclocross racing, it’s undoubtedly a blow to not see the defending champion line up in Luxembourg.
De Jong is the latest of title hopefuls to suffer a late-season crash just before worlds. We’ve already lost Toon Aerts for the season after last weekend’s World Cup crash:
Fiuggi Fracture: Toon Aerts Suffers Broken Colllarbone and Scapula, Ends Season
We wish De Jong a speedy recovery.
