cycling issue 1 2018
ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
“Athletes require a lot of attention, both before and after the treatment.” – Tom Claes –
T
he name Claes will definitely sound like music to the ears of many cyclists, although when they meet him it’s often because they are in some kind of ‘miserable’ situation. It is almost impossible to find a Belgian rider who has never been to the orthopaedic ward of the hospital in Herentals. With Toon Claes as the absolute pillar, and his sons Tom and Steven and 6 other colleagues as his lieutenants, Herentals is 'the place to be’ for cyclists with collarbone fractures, knee injuries and other locomotor problems. We had an interesting conversation with Tom, who told us that Greg Van Avermaet once told him: “Your father is not here, but you are a Claes, so you can do it!” No pressure, you know ... NAQI Foundation
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