Cycling: Horror crash on Tour of the Basque Country – Concern for Vingegaard – Sport – Schwarzwälder Bote
Cycling horror crash on Tour of the Basque Country – concern for Vingegaard
dpa April 5, 2024 – 12:32 a.m
Jonas Vingegaard and other top stars were involved in a dramatic crash during the Tour of the Basque Country. Photo: Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse/AP/dpa
Numerous cycling stars suffer a bad fall during the Tour of the Basque Country. Tour winner Vingegaard is transported away in an ambulance. In the evening there are diagnoses for several drivers.
Legutio – Jonas Vingegaard lay motionless on the ground next to a concrete ditch for minutes before being taken on a stretcher to an ambulance. A few meters away, Remco Evenepoel was holding his collarbone and Primoz Roglic was limping across the asphalt with his face contorted in pain. In a dramatic fall on the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country, the three cycling stars, all of whom want to fight for overall victory at the Tour de France in July, and other riders were seriously injured.
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The pictures of Tour champion Vingegaard caused the greatest concern. The Dane rushed into the ditch in the right-hand bend almost without braking. Vingegaard was on the way to the hospital, his Visma team initially said. According to sports director Frans Maassen, Vingegaard is conscious. In the evening, the racing team announced the Dane’s test results. Accordingly, the 27-year-old suffered a broken collarbone and several broken ribs. He remains in the hospital for observation as a precaution, the team said on X, formerly Twitter. “It was a serious accident, but fortunately he is stable and conscious,” it said.
Broken collarbone: Evenepoel needs surgery
Evenepoel was also taken to the hospital. The Belgian time trial world champion had first skilfully rounded the ditch, but then fell on the grass. Evenepoel broke his collarbone. As his racing team Soudal Quick-Step announced, the Belgian also suffered a fracture of his shoulder blade. He will return to Belgium today and undergo an operation there. Further medical examinations would also be carried out in the hospital in Herentals.
Giro winner Roglic, who was wearing the yellow jersey, was at least able to leave the scene of the accident in the team car of the German Bora-hansgrohe racing team. He gave a thumbs up as he left. The Slovenian was only involved in a crash on Wednesday. In the evening, his team gave the all-clear: No broken bones were found in Roglic during hospital examinations.
Crash 35 kilometers from the finish in Legutio
The crash occurred around 35 kilometers from the finish in Legutio in a right-hand bend. Natnael Tesfatsion from Eritrea was the first to slip, and then around a dozen other riders fell. The Eritrean was also taken to a hospital. His team said there were numerous bruises and abrasions, but initially no broken bones or a concussion.
In addition to Vingegaard and the top drivers, the Australian Jay Vine also had it worse. The professional cyclist was conscious, his UAE team said. The 28-year-old was diagnosed with a cervical vertebra fracture and two fractures of the thoracic spine. “Fortunately, no neurological problems have occurred and there are no other serious injuries or skull injuries,” the team said in a statement. Vine will remain in the hospital for neurological observation and is awaiting orthopedic spinal evaluation and further treatment.
The best racers in the world at the start
The race was then neutralized and the remaining drivers drove towards the finish at a slow pace. The remaining peloton was given the freedom to fight for the stage win. However, this had no influence on the overall ranking. The South African Luis Meintjes secured the stage success, which was insignificant for the ranking.
Many drivers use the Basque Country Tour as preparation for the big tours in the summer. Of the best tour riders in the world, only two-time Tour winner Tadej Pogacar was not at the start.
Cycling was once again overshadowed by a bad crash just around a week after the serious fall of Belgian star Wout van Aert. The Belgian suffered several broken ribs and a broken collarbone in the semi-classic Across Flanders at the end of March. Van Aert will be out for weeks.
Shock for the German team
In addition, a training accident involving German hopeful Lennard Kämna on Wednesday in Tenerife shocked the German Bora team. The 27-year-old from Bremen suffered numerous injuries, but is in a stable condition, his racing team said. “He is awake, responsive and able to communicate. (…) He is receiving very good care in the hospital in Tenerife and will be monitored in the intensive care unit in the coming days. Members of the family and the team are with him,” it continued. According to the German racing team, an oncoming vehicle gave way to Kämna when turning.