Belgian cyclocross rider Bart Wellens, a former world champion and favorite for today's Belgian championships, was rushed to the hospital with an extremely high fever and potentially life-threatening consequences on Saturday. Though his condition has stabilized and the danger reduced, Wellens experienced "multiple organ failure" and "heart capacity reduced to 10%" according to Sporza. Presently his condition is described as "worrying." We will provide updates as they become available. Look in comments too.
0 recs | 26 comments
This really bad news
I hope he recovers well.
singhstax - January 8, 2012
Such shit news to wake up to :'(
tgsgirl - January 8, 2012
Here's hoping he's well ASAP
Sarah Connolly - January 8, 2012
UPDATE
He’s getting better, he’s even talking. Wow. Doctors were talking of a 35% chance he wouldn’t survive the night.
tgsgirl - January 8, 2012
Shiiiiiit! I've only just got in and had no idea how bad he was!
Please get well soon Bartje! :’(
Albertina - January 8, 2012
Jesus that sounds like Meningitis...
…shudder.
Ed K - January 8, 2012
It sounds like Ricco!
Frinking - January 8, 2012
I hate to admit it but I thought of that too
Sure sounds like some kind of sepsis. I have seen pneumonia strike that severely and suddenly. Even just developing a severe fever while dehydrated will kick your kidneys. However, assuming (that since he is talking now) he never needed a respirator, his prospects are likely pretty good, thank heavens
uninformed consent - January 8, 2012
+1
eerily similar in all sorts of ways, including the time of year.</p%Pr
kom vuelta - January 8, 2012
I jumped there too. Despite really liking the guy.
Hope that says more about me than about him. For sure that’s not the only way to produce this result. With all the shit (literally) that they inhale and bathe their cuts in, there are all sorts of ways for something bacterial or fungal to go systemic and cause havoc. But, yeah, Ricco. A lot like. Guess the docs guessed right, but I assume they’re not talking.
JFS_PGH - January 8, 2012
I was going to mention blood infections too...
…was a basketball player a few years ago with something similar, iirc, nearly died from a infected cut.
Ed K - January 9, 2012
Initially, Ricco sounded like massive organ failure as a result of a very high fever...
…and unfortunately bacterial meningitis is the most common way for otherwise healthy young people to suddenly end up that sick.
The improvements reported are very heartening, in any event.
Ed K - January 8, 2012
Comments from the doctors go a long way make any suspicions look unfounded
Sporza has a story. It might be suspicious but it may also be a quite normal condition.
Jens - January 9, 2012
Cyclingnews also has an article today
where his personal physician Peter T. Seyen explicity says that Wellens condition is caused by infection, not doping
link here
hansgruber - January 10, 2012
Where?
Here
hansgruber - January 10, 2012
Well, I'm less what "personal physicians" say
If there was something up, odds are that guy is the man behind it. More impressed with what a doc from the hospital he happened to end up in says.
Jens - January 10, 2012
"less impressed with"
Jens - January 10, 2012
I agree, but I found it interesting and somewhat
reassuring that he actually went out of his way to say what he did
hansgruber - January 10, 2012
Since the speculation pretty much went viral right away
I’m guessing the people around Wellens are eager to get any and all info on what really happened out there as soon and loudly as possible.
Jens - January 10, 2012
Um, doping (including blood doping) and infection are not an either/or.
No, you don’t need a dirty/contaminated needle or catheter to get a systemic infection. But a dirty / contaminated catheter is a mighty powerful way to get a systemic infection. (This is not an accusation—just pointing out the bad logic.)
JFS_PGH - January 10, 2012
Do we know how he is now? I heard he left intensive care
Albertina - January 10, 2012
Picture from standaard.be
broerie - January 10, 2012
Very discrete
tgsgirl - January 10, 2012
;)
politicians…..
broerie - January 10, 2012
Kim Jong-Il is still better at it
tgsgirl - January 11, 2012
Such a relief to see him looking OK
Sarah Connolly - January 10, 2012
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