Nathan Van Hooydonck reflects on the moment his career came to an end for the first time after doctors discovered cardiac abnormalities and fitted the Belgian with an internal defibrillator (ICD) to correct potential future cardiac arrhythmias.

The Jumbo Visma rider was nearing death when heart problems caused him to lose control of his car and hit 5 other cars at the intersection with his pregnant wife, Alicia, but thankfully survived the incident after being placed in a medically induced coma at Antwerp Hospital.

A week after the accident, Van Hooydonck had to announce his early retirement from cycling due to sadly being fitted with an ICD, but the pair soon had the pleasure of entering the world with 27-year-old Kristallen Fiets, son Alessio, who commented before Belgium cycling's awards night.

"I am very well aware that I may not have been able to hold him," van Hooydonck told Vtm Nieuws and Het Laatste Nieuws, the organizers of the event. "I realize it more and more every day.

However, the Belgian was one of a terrible week when his time in the sport suddenly ended after another glorious season working for the likes of Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard.

"I don't really remember anything about the accident," Van Hooydonk said. "Even before the doctor told me, I remember grief because I already knew that my career was over.

"It was a terrible week in the hospital, despite the fact that I received good help from the medical staff who were there every day, especially my family.

However, thanks to its excellent work, Van Hooydonck has won the "Crystal Sweat Drop" Award, which, alongside Wout van Aert, Jonas Rickaert, Jasper De Buyst, Louis Vervaeke, Justine Ghekiere and Sanne Cant, honors the best domestique from the Belgian eminent list of Propeloton cyclists.

This season, Van Hooydonck has played a key role in winning the final races at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne, E3Saxo Bank Classic, Gent Wevelgem, Criterion du Dauphiné, Tour de France and Tour of Britain, and has been a pain in the race across teammates and the cycling world.