Just read on several sources that he’s been dealing with pain for quite some time and the iliac artery corrective surgery did not help. Despite some of the controversy, I always enjoyed watching him race. Enjoy retirement, Eli and thanks for the bike stomps.
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That’s a sad way to end a career. I agree he was very entertaining to watch and he’s been missed this season. Feels like a real changing of the guard in the men’s CX peloton at the moment and this cements it.
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I think this is the first (or at least public) failed external iliac artery surgery for a high level pro? There have been a bunch of notable returns to sport but I can’t recall a situation like this before. Google AI is telling me that he underwent 4 surgeries which seems like an insane amount on what you would think is the same section of problematic artery. Really sad. It might be interesting for EC to try to get an interview with him as a follow up to the FLIA article that was done last year.
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I know of another from the women’s world tour who retired after her surgery didn’t alleviate the pain/deadness.
Doesn’t he have issues beyond the iliac artery? I’ve heard and read that he’s had a long term back issue that’s meant he’s always raced in constant pain from piriformis syndrome (pressure on sciatic nerve) - Helen Wyman has mentioned it a few times in comms.
He was always the villain I rooted against in races but he was incredibly talented and came across as way more likeable in interviews. He’s so much physically smaller than WvA, MvDP and Toon Aerts that he could ride different lines and take some corners faster so was always great to watch. Gutted for him to have to leave the sport like this.
I’ve been doing a deep dive on iliac artery stuff and there have been a number of mentions of it apparently manifesting first as a back issue because people will contort themselves to try to get more power out and cause back issues as a result.
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Not my favorite rider, but he seemed like such a fixture–that he would always be there. Made a great foil.