Julian Mertens underwent spinal surgery at Antwerp University Hospital. After yesterday's accident in training, the Bingoal-WB rider immediately appeared in serious condition and, once transported to hospital, was put into a state of pharmacological coma by the doctors. There are still no precise details on the incident, the Belgian Professional team meanwhile released a statement: “Julian was successfully operated on his spine but remains in an induced coma. Now he will also have to be operated on the jaw. He also suffers from broken arms and ribs and will remain in an artificial coma for a few more days, depending on the evolution of his condition”.