Stijn Steels fractures vertebrae in crash on first night of Gent Six Day

The opening Madison of the 100th Gent Six Day was interrupted on Tuesday by a heavy crash, with Stijn Steels sustaining injuries including fractured vertebrae. 

The pile-up came midway through the first major point-scoring event of the evening for the elite men's field. Jules Hesters and Tim Torn Teutenberg, racing in the yellow of Sport Vlaanderen, botched an exchange and both came down.

Coming in fast from behind, Fabio Van den Bossche tried to steer around but slid out in the path of Steels, who fell head-first down the steeply banked track in 't Kuipke.

Steels was taken away on a stretcher but was conscious, although in pain, and waved as the crowd cheered him off.

Examinations in hospital revealed he had broken two vertebrae and three ribs, as well as suffering a lung contusion.

"The fractures are stable and as of this moment no operation or further intervention is required," read a statement from Steels' QuickStep-AlphaVinyl team. 

Steels himself has already issued a public message from his hospital bed. 

"The scans did not bring good news. With pain in my heart (and in the rest of the body) I have to give up in the six days," he wrote on social media. 

"Thanks again to everyone for all the support, everything will be fine."

Racing resumed on Tuesday with Lindsay De Vylder and Robbe Ghys (Baloise Insurance) taking the 20 points for the victory, finishing ahead of hometown hero Iljo Keisse - racing in his final Gent Six Day - and Lotto Souda/Quickstep teammate Jasper De Buyst.

Van den Bossche got back up and, after a neutralisation, finished third with BelgaClima/DS Plastics teammate Yoeri Havik. Hesters and Teutenberg were fourth, while Steels and teammate Silvan Dillier were classified three laps down.