Shock in cycling: a Dutchman fell into a coma from a tremendous blow and accuses the person who pushed him of being a "criminal"

08/05/2020 - 18:16

• Clarín.com
• sports

The Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen is admitted to an induced coma after a very hard fall a few meters from the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Poland , which caused him a very severe traumatic brain injury. The shock in world cycling was such that his compatriot Dylan Groenewege , who pushed him against the fences in the final sprint , was accused of "criminal" by his rivals and ended up being disqualified, for which Jakobsen, 23, was proclaimed winner when I was in the hospital.

" Fabio is seriously injured and his life is in danger. He suffered severe brain trauma. It has been difficult to intubate due to a ruptured palate with heavy bleeding. The palate and upper respiratory tract were crushed, but we managed to intubate him, although he lost a lot The heart was working well and maintaining the correct pressure, "explained Dr. Barbara Jerschina, who treated the 23-year-old Dutchman at the accident site.

The 23-year-old Dutchman, in the 2018 image after a Binkcbank Tour race victory, was admitted into an induced coma.Photo: David Stockman / AFP

Jakobsen and Groenewege led the pack in the last leg of the first stage, which took place in Katowice. As they approached the goal, one close to the other, Jakobsen tried to get ahead by passing through the area closest to the signs that marked the layout. Groenewege cornered him, raised his right arm a little and pushed his rival, who ended up falling hard against the protections, flying and hitting a photographer.

According to Polish television, Jakobsen received muscle relaxants and was admitted "in an induced coma".

The scattering of posters and fences caused other cyclists who had been closely escorting the leaders to end up on the ground, including the Frenchman Marc Sarreau, who was transferred to a hospital with a possible broken collarbone.

Groenewege managed to cross the finish line first, in the middle of a fall, and ended up on the asphalt as soon as he sealed his victory. But after analyzing his actions, the race organizers disqualified him because they considered him the cause of the terrible accident. Thus, Jakobsen was announced as the winner and Sarreau, another of those affected, finished second. 

Jakobsen was treated at the scene and then flown by helicopter to a local hospital. Photo: Reuters

"You cannot act this way," test organizer Czeslaw Lang told Polish TV TVP Sport, visibly upset with the Dutch sprinter's move.

He added: "It was an uneven fight. One of the runners has suffered a lot, like two other riders and one of the judges. The rest of the riders are more or less well."

After the end of the stage, the first of the five that make up this World Tour event, criticism rained down for Groenewege.

The International Cycling Union issued a statement in which it strongly condemned the Dutchman's attitude. "The UCI, which considers the behavior unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the Disciplinary Commission to request the imposition of sanctions according to the gravity of the facts. Our Federation is wholeheartedly with the affected riders," the text reads.

Frenchman Marc Sarreau was transferred to a hospital with a possible clavicle fracture.Photo: EFE

But also other cyclists and ex-cyclists turned against the aggressor. The harshest words came from Jakobsen's team. " They have to send this guy to jail.  These actions must be outside of cycling. It is a criminal act ," Patrick Lefevere, CEO of Deceuninck, wrote on his Twitter account.

Former Swiss cyclist Fabian Cancellara said: "This definitely has nothing to do with our sport. It is too much. I pray for Fabio, so that nothing bad happens."

The Spanish David de la Cruz, from the UAE-Team Emirates, reflected: "I wish that all those involved in the fall are well and that there is an exemplary sanction. These actions not only endanger our lives, but greatly damage the image of our sport. "

And his compatriot from the French Cofidis assured: "I think you should reflect on what has happened in Poland and the offender should not run in a long time. Safety is the most important thing in our sport, much more than any victory."

Groenewegen, on the ground with a yellow helmet, got to cross the finish line first.Photo: EFE

The German Simon Geschke, from the CCC Team, relieved some of the responsibility in the organization. "Every year, the same silly downhill race on the Tour of Poland. Every year I wonder why the organization thinks it's a good idea. Group sprints are dangerous," he wrote on Twitter.

The Jumbo-Visma, Groenewege's team, apologized through social networks for the attitude of their broker. "Our thoughts go out to Fabio Jakobsen and others involved in the terrible accident. Crashes like these should not occur. We offer our sincere apologies and will internally discuss what has happened before we can make any further statements," he said in a brief statement.

HS