IRONMAN New Zealand 2025 for Pieter Heemeryck was over before it even started, and in the most painful of circumstances.

The Belgian star was one of the major names on the start list for the first big full-distance race of the year in Taupō on Saturday, but he never even made it to the start line. Instead, he was on a flight home to Brussels as home favourite Mike Phillips surged to his third victory in New Zealand’s biggest race.

Heemeryck’s week quickly turned from the excitement of a season opener to pain and agony in a split second when he was on a training ride in the countdown to race day.

Writing on Instagram stories (see here, with relevant images) Pieter explained: “Got many questions how it happened. Just was riding on the main road when a car took me full on my side coming from the other lane.”

Broken collarbone for Heemeryck

The end result for Pieter was a horrible collision and a fractured collarbone, but he was left feeling thankful that it was not even more serious.

He added: “Almost every part of the bike is damaged (you can see the images here). Think I have to be very happy it’s only a broken collarbone for myself.”

The incident was obviously devastating for Pieter as he prepared to begin his 2025 season, a campaign which will obviously now be significantly delayed. He is though wasting no time in trying to get his year back on track.

Heemeryck revealed that surgery was already planned for shortly after his arrival back in Belgium on Saturday and he added: “Thanks to my team around me helping me so fast. Rehab has started but looks like racing season will start later for me.”

Heemeryck 2025 season plans

The extent of the disruption to Pieter’s 2025 season schedule is of course not yet known for sure – it is all dependent on how swiftly he can recover from that painful injury.

He had announced his planned schedule earlier this month, with IRONMAN New Zealand followed by T100 Singapore in early April. That could also be in doubt now as a result of his agony in Taupō.

After that, fitness permitting Pieter was planning to race on home soil in Leuven on May 11, followed swiftly by IRONMAN 70.3 Kraichgau on May 25. Then T100 Vancouver in June, Challenge Roth in July and T100 London in August.

We hope Pieter recovers swiftly from his injury and we hope to see him back in action very soon.