On 28 May 2016, during the Stage 3, a crash of two motorcycles into the peloton injured 19 riders. The stage was cancelled that day and several riders abandoned the race and did not start on Stage 4.[1]Stig Broeckx was reported to suffer severe injuries and was in a coma and vegetative (succumbing) state in the hospital in Gent.
28 May 2016 – Verviers to Verviers, 203.0 km (126.1 mi)
Two motorbikes crashed and fell into the peloton at high speeds about 65 km into the stage. 19 riders were involved into the crash, with Stig Broeckx, Fredrik Ludvigsson, Jesper Asselman, Andrea Guardini, Kristoffer Skjerping and Pieter Jacobs all transported to the hospital because of injuries. Broeckx, who had just recovered from injury after already being hit by a motorbike during the 2016 Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne race two months earlier, was in worst shape as he immediately went unconscious and was later diagnosed to have two intracranial hemorrhages and a broken eye socket. Race direction and riders decided not to continue the race. A closed peloton rode to the finish in Verviers as the stage was cancelled.[1]