[A 26-year-old cyclist with intermittent claudication]

A 26-year-old male amateur cyclist, with no risk factors for vascular disease or previous trauma, presented with left-calf claudication. Physical and additional examination revealed an occlusion of the external iliac artery. During the operation, the cause was found to be an endofibrotic lesion of the external iliac artery, probably due to mechanical trauma as a result of the non-physiological aerodynamic position held on the bicycle during many hours of training. An endarterectomy was performed and the tendon of the psoas-minor muscle was cut because of its strong impression on the psoas-major muscle, which resulted in kinking of the external iliac artery. There followed two episodes of re-occlusion which were treated with a venous interposition graft and a dacron interposition graft, respectively. Thereafter the patient was able to train without pain. Intermittent claudication of the legs in young athletes should not be underestimated; occlusive vascular disease caused by arterial endofibrosis should be considered.