But VDB is always good for a surprise.  Vandenbroucke did answer his phone himself when he was called by journalists of the Belgian newspaper. Vandenbroucke said: "What is being said about me is not true at all." VDB continued by saying: Yes, I am very depressed. Sarah [Pinacci, his wife] wants a divorce and now I am paying the price for that. But I did not want to commit suicide. Wednesday, I checked myself into the hospital."

 

In an interview with The Belgian tv station VTM Vandenbroucke said that apart from the problems with his wife, he is also still having problems with his knee. Vandenbroucke repeated that he did not try to commit suicide. Vandenbroucke also spoke about the recent weave of confessions of epo use in the nineties: "All over sudden everybody starts to admit that they took epo. But until now all these people lived in freedom. Pantani and I are maybe the only ones who really were being tackled. I stood under pressure for five years, my family as well. My wife, my parents, my children and myself have paid the price for that. That has hit me deeply," Vandenbroucke said. 

 

Het Laatste Nieuws also spoke with AcQua & Sapone team manager Palmiro Masciarelli. Masciarelli took care of Vandenbroucke when the 1999 winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège came to Italy last year. VDB lived at Masciarelli's house in Pescara. Vandenbroucke went from Pescara to his home in Milano but Masciarelli did not have a good feeling after Vandebroucke left: "He had a deep depression. I have send my nephew Mimo to Milano to take him [Vandenbroucke] back. On Tuesday VDB dissapeared but however on Wednesday Mimo found him. He did not act normal, he was under the influence of sleeping pills. When Mimo left for a short time Frank took an overdose antidepressants. He also injected himself with insulin. When Mimo came back he found Frank lying on the ground. He called the hospital."

 

Masciarelli added: "After 5 mintues he was on conscious." The Acqua & Sapone team manager continued by saying: "He said he was in love with his wife. That he wanted to come back to Pescara to race again. Frank cried, apologised and said he was dreadfully sorry."

 

In an interview with Italian daily sports Gazzetta Dello Sport Masciarelli said: "I have told him that if he wants to he can continue to ride for Acqua & Sapone or work for me as a representative. Frank does not have any money. His entire earnings end up with is wife." Vandenbroucke is still welcome to live with the Masciarelli family in Pescara: "I asked him to come back to Pescara. He has a good life here. He trains and can regenerate very well here. He has friends too here. In Milano he is as lonely as a dog."

 

His uncle, Jean-Luc Vandebroucke told Het Laatste Nieuws: "Frank must be saved. And than I am not talking about the rider VDB, but about the human being. It is not the first time that he did something against himself. He is already wandering too long in that psycholical low." He must come out there and fast."

 

Frank Vandenbroucke is recovering at the Fornaroli di Magenta hospital near Milano. Vandenbroucke told VTM that he wants to get out of the hospital as soon as possible and that the solution might be going back to Belgium.