From EssentiallySports · Maleeha Shakeel · · 1m 10s
Helmet Saved His Life
Olympic champion's fiancé hit by car days before wedding.
In brief
Olympic champion's fiancé hit by car days before wedding. Dylan van Baarle's helmet saved his life after a car crash during training days before his wedding to Olympic cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. Originally reported by EssentiallySports.
Dylan van Baarle
Dylan van Baarle was scheduled to race Paris-Tours on Sunday, October 11, 2026, but a serious crash during training in the Netherlands changed everything just days before the event.
Car crash
The accident happened on October 7 while Van Baarle was training in the Netherlands, near Tiel, on Markstraat in Opheusden.
Helmet saved life
Ferrand-Prévot wrote on Instagram that he suffered a major impact to the head; his helmet saved his life.
“He suffered a major impact to the head; his helmet saved his life…”
Hospital treatment
Van Baarle underwent a CT scan revealing no skull or spine damage but sustained a wrist fracture requiring surgery.
Surgery scheduled
Surgery was scheduled for Thursday, October 8, ruling Van Baarle out of Paris-Tours and the remainder of his racing calendar.
Wedding delay
Van Baarle and Ferrand-Prévot are preparing to marry later in October, but the crash has delayed their wedding.
The takeaway
Dylan van Baarle's helmet saved his life after a car crash during training days before his wedding to Olympic cyclist Pauline Ferrand-Prévot.
