STARTING OVER

Nathan Van Hooydonck was 27 and one of the world's fittest pro cyclists – then a heart attack took it all away in an instant. We found out how he's coping with his new way of life

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In the summer of 2023, with some impressive performances at the Spring Classics under his belt, Belgian pro cyclist Nathan Van Hooydonck supported his team leader, Jonas Vingegaard, to a second successive win in the Tour de France.

The 27-year-old's other Jumbo-Visma teammates included Wout van Aert and Sepp Kuss. He was full of promise, having also notably helped Primož Roglič to a Vuelta a España win in 2021. Then, just two months later, it all came crashing down.

While driving at home in Belgium, in mid September, his pregnant wife in the passenger seat, Van Hooydonck suffered a massive cardiac arrest. He crashed the car and, in his words, was “dead for a little bit”, before being resuscitated at the scene. After several emergency surgeries, he thankfully awoke in hospital and, almost immediately, was forced to come to terms with the fact that his racing career, which had been such a massive part of his identity, was finished.

Two years later, we sat down with him to find out, in his own words, the story of that horrific day, what came next, and what his experience can teach anyone who exercises regularly and is passionate about it.

A DIFFERENT FOCUS

Thankfully, Van Hooydonck hasn't had to completely turn his back on cycling since that awful, life-changing moment. In 2024, he returned to the WorldTour circuit in a new role, working in hospitality for his team (which had become Visma-Lease a Bike) and guiding VIP guests to give them a tailored experience in the riders’ footsteps, from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad to the Tour de France. “Guiding the hospitality guests during the races played a huge role in my processing,” Van Hooydonck has said previously. “In the months after the accident, I found it hard to accept that I was no longer a rider. Being present at the races helped tremendously.”