Skip to main content

Cyclingnews The World Centre of Cycling

Sign in

View Profile
Sign out

Search

Search Cyclingnews

News
- Racing News
Racing
- Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
Women's Cycling
Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
- Bikes
- Cycling Kit & Accessories
- Components
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Home
News
- View News
- Racing News
Racing
- View Racing
- Races
  - View Races
  - Results
  - Live Reports
  - Calendar
  - Road
  - Gravel
  - MTB
  - Track
  - Cyclo-cross
- Teams & Riders
- How to Watch
- Rules
  - View Rules
  - Safety
  - Doping
  - Motor Doping
Women's Cycling
Premium
- View Premium
- Labs
- In-Depth Racing
- Tech Galleries
- Columns
- Industry
- Investigations
- Performance
- Training
- Finance
- Health
Tech
Buying Advice
Features
- Live Reports
- Quizzes
- Cycling Culture
- Forums
- Autobus
- About

Cyclingnews - Monthly Subscription

Why subscribe?

Gain unlimited instant access to the entire Cyclingnews website
Breaking news live reporting and analysis from all of the major races
In-depth reviews of all the latest tech and bikes
Plus access to our subscriber exclusive premium content
Cancel anytime

From$7.99

/mth

Subscribe now

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful

An account already exists for this email address, please log in.

Trending

Tour de France stage 9 preview
Tour de France
Tour de France Femmes
Subscribe from $1
Download our app

Pro Cycling
Teams & Riders
Tim Mertens

Mertens undergoes exploratory heart surgery

News

By Susan Westemeyer

Published 19 November 2009

Track rider unwell at Manchester and Munich

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Facebook
X
Pinterest
Email

Share this article

Join the conversation

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Subscribe to our newsletter

Tim Mertens (Belgium) leads the field in the men's Madison qualifier (Image credit: Gerry McManus/www.splitsecondimages.co.uk)

Belgian track rider Tim Mertens underwent exploratory heart surgery Wednesday and will miss the Gent Six Day, November 24 to 29.

Mertens, 23, did not feel well at the World Cup meet in Manchester earlier this month. He dropped out of last week's Munich Six Day race on the first day with reported circulation problems.

The surgery should clarify what the problem is and how serious it is.

Latest Videos From

Watch full video here:

Mertens also made his professional debut on the road this season, riding for the Belgian Professional Continental team Topsport-Vlaanderen.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

TOPICS

Track

Susan Westemeyer

Latest in Teams & Riders

Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard at the start of stage 8 of the 2025 Tour de France

Teams & Riders 'Thanks to the GC contenders for this respect' – Tadej Pogačar says agreement has been reached by favourites to sit at the back and stay safe on Tour de France sprint finishes

Stage winner Tim Merlier of Belgium and Team Soudal Quick-Step, Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Team NSN Cycling, Pascal Ackermann of Germany and Team Jayco AlUla and Pavel Bittner of Czech Republic and Team Picnic PostNL sprint at finish line during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 8

Teams & Riders 'It's clear that he hesitated after not winning yesterday' – Alpecin say no need for panic yet at Tour de France despite another sprint loss for Jasper Philipsen

Liam Slock rides alone during stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France

Teams & Riders 'Not really proud' – Tour de France heartache for Liam Slock as attempt to upset the sprinters with 40km solo just falls short on stage 8

Baptiste Veistroffer wears a hat and sunglasses at the start of stage 8 of the 2026 Tour de France

Teams & Riders Baptiste Veistroffer has become the breakaway hero this Tour de France needs

Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz line up with their teammates on the sign-on podium of the Tour de France

Teams & Riders Remco Evenepoel and Florian Lipowitz are putting on a happy face at the Tour de France, but I'm not really buying it – is anyone?

Ex pro-rider, Caleb Ewan of Australia, interviews Remco Evenepoel of Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe during the team presentation of 2026 Tour de France

Teams & Riders 'I always love watching the sprints' - Caleb Ewan analyses the Tour de France sprint in Bordeaux

Latest in News

An exhausted Tim Merlier calms down on some steps after his stunning long-range sprint win on stage 8 of the Tour de France 2026

Racing 'Not a lot of other things they can do' – Tour de France stage winner Merlier welcomes shortening of stage 9 amid extreme heat

Tim Merlier celebrates at finish line as stage winner ahead of Biniam Girmay during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 8 a 180.4km stage from Perigueux to Bergerac

Racing Søren Wærenskjold slams Biniam Girmay for Tour de France sprint intimidation

Teams & Riders 'Thanks to the GC contenders for this respect' – Tadej Pogačar says agreement has been reached by favourites to sit at the back and stay safe on Tour de France sprint finishes

Tim Merlier of Belgium and Biniam Girmay sprint to the finish line during the 113th Tour de France 2026, Stage 8

Racing 'If I see how I sprinted, it's crazy' - Biniam Girmay accepts that Tim Merlier is fastest in the Tour de France sprints

Teams & Riders 'It's clear that he hesitated after not winning yesterday' – Alpecin say no need for panic yet at Tour de France despite another sprint loss for Jasper Philipsen

Teams & Riders 'Not really proud' – Tour de France heartache for Liam Slock as attempt to upset the sprinters with 40km solo just falls short on stage 8