Belgian professional rider Julien Mertens suffered an accident during training on Wednesday, putting him in an artificial coma and requiring spinal surgery.

25-year-old Julien Mertens, a member of the Bingoal WB team, was taken to a hospital in Antwerp after suffering an "accident" during training on Wednesday.

To best deal with his injuries, he was placed in a coma. On Thursday morning, the team announced that "the surgery was a success."

Mertens will undergo further jaw surgery on Thursday. He also suffered a broken arm and multiple ribs.

"He will remain in an artificial coma for a few more days while we monitor his progress.

Mertens turned professional with Sport Vlaanderen Baloise, which launched the careers of numerous Belgian professional players after a development program with Lot Doustony.

He spent three years there before joining Vingor WB at the beginning of 2023 to take part in the big Classic campaigns at the Tour de Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

His best result of his career came on the first day of the 2022 Belgian Tour, when he finished ninth in a stage won by Mads Pedersen.