An emotional Dimitri De Fauw spoke to the press for the first time since the tragic accident which resulted in the death of Isaac Gálvez today. During the fifth night of the Gent six-day, De Fauw and the Spanish world champion collided, and Gálvez was critically injured when he hit the rail. The 25 year old De Fauw said "I will carry this with me for the rest of my life. Only time can heal my wounds."
Fauw has gone back to the velodrome, known as ''t Kuipke', three times since the ordeal, but has yet to touch his bike. "I haven't touched the bike since Saturday." De Fauw said the first time he tried to go back to the track, he collapsed, and the second time he could stay only ten minutes. "The last time I laid flowers at the place where they tried to resuscitate Gálvez. Now I no longer want to see the building".
De Fauw, however, promises that he will pick up the bike again as soon as he has come to terms with the tragedy. "I have had some painful and very emotional days and nights. The idea of hanging up the bike hasn't occurred to me. What good will that do? It is no solution to stop. In fact, this accident must be an extra incentive for me to go further with racing... However, right now I am not ready for that. I would like to thank my team for giving me the time to complete this process in my own way."
