Bram Schmitz (T-Mobile) (Image credit: Elmar Krings)
Bram Schmitz (T-Mobile) caused a few ripples in the Eneco Tour when he pulled out of Sunday's fourth stage with "heart rhythm disturbances". The 28 year-old was suffering from cramp on the final climb of the stage, and he pulled out. "Back at the hotel everything pointed towards heart rhythm disturbance, so we took him that evening to hospital in Hasselt," said T-Mobile's team doctor Lothar Heinrich. Further tests confirmed the earlier suspicion. Schmitz was treated for the problem and was kept in hospital overnight for controls.
The condition was a "one off" according to Heinrich, and Schmitz is now out of hospital and expects to resume training today (Wednesday). "He will be carry on with his race programme as planned."
"There's nothing wrong with me," Schmitz was quoted by Algemeen Dagblad as saying. "I have done all sorts of tests and none have shown that there's anything wrong with my heart. I did a no end of work in the leadup to the Eneco Tour. After my crash in the Dutch Championships, I didn't do anything. Maybe I've forced myself too much and not looked after my diet enough. The doctor said also that a good night's sleep and good meal would do me good. That is apparent."
