Heart problems end up professional career cyclist Lars van den Berg

Cyclist Lars van den Berg no longer returns to the bike. The 26-year-old Dutchman, employed by the French Groupama-FDJ, is struggling with heart problems and is forced to put an end to his professional career.

Van den Berg rode his last game in February 2024, the Faun Ardèche Classic. He suddenly became unwell in that French one -day race. “After investigations in the Netherlands it turned out to be an inflamed heart muscle.”

He was not allowed to exercise until October. “Then I built it quietly again. In the beginning a maximum of two hours, later a maximum of four hours. In December and January I went back to a training camp with the team, always with a view to a return to the peloton.”

Recently, bad news came from the cardiologist. “The inflammation has caused scar tissue and that can lead to cardiac arrhythmias. A cardiac arrest can arise from that. The cardiologist thinks the risk is too great.”

A pacemaker is not an option for a cyclist. “If I had been a football player, it would have been possible. Look at Christian Eriksen and Daley Blind. If you go down on a football field, the consequences are less than when you do that in a 180 riders around you.”

The blow came hard. “I would have wanted to be a professional for at least ten years, want to ride the tour a few more times, want to win a course. I would also have liked to ride in one team with my brother Marijn. But unfortunately that was not given to me.” Marijn van den Berg is a sprinter at Eph.

“The biggest blow actually came last year. It suddenly shows that you cannot trust your body. You don’t expect that if you are 25. That was very difficult.”

Meanwhile, it appears that moderately can still be done. “I now have a certain level again, I also feel fit again. I know I can cycle for four hours in a day and I also have faith in my body again.”

He does not disappear completely from cycling. He recently made his debut as a co-commentator at the Autovantra. “My hobby remains a bit of my job. That’s great.”