Koen de Kort has three fingers amputated on right hand

The Dutch veteran underwent three-hour surgery after being airlifted to hospital following an off-road vehicle crash

Koen de Kort
(Image credit: Justin Setterfield/Getty Image)

Koen de Kort has suffered serious hand injuries in an off-road vehicle crash, which resulted in the Dutchman having three fingers amputated on his right hand.

Trek-Segafredo rider De Kort was airlifted to hospital after the incident, which happened near the Pyrenees area of Andorra, where De Kort has been living for a number of years. 

After undergoing immediate three-hour surgery in hospital, doctors were forced to amputate the third, fourth and fifth fingers from De Kort’s right hand. 

Trek-Segafredo doctor Manuel Rodriguez Alonso said: “Unfortunately, Koen has lost the third, fourth, and fifth finger of his right hand. The amputation has been total removal.

“Dr. Jorge Serrano, who operated on him and to whom we must thank for his work, told me that from the first findings the functionality of the hand will be maintained thanks to the thumb and index finger. The latter also suffered a considerable damage but, thanks to the efforts of the doctors, was saved from amputation.

“Because of considerable dirt around the wounds, the risk of infection has not been ruled out, but the most appropriate antibiotic therapy is being administered. Obviously, Koen will remain in the hospital for the next few days.”

De Kort, 38, who joined the pro peloton in 2002, was involved in a crash while driving an off-road vehicle on Thursday afternoon (June 24). 

The experience road captain was rushed by helicopter to Parc Tauli hospital in Barcelona, Spain. 

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After doctors assessed the severity of the situation, De Kort underwent emergency surgery. 

Dr Rodriguez Alonso has spoken to De Kort both before and after surgery, reporting that the rider is in good condition physically and mentally. 

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Alex Ballinger

Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers.  Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.