Violently fallen at the finish of the Tour of Poland on Wednesday in Katowice (south), Fabio Jakobsen was still in an artificial coma Thursday while the person responsible for this terrible massive fall, Dylan Groenewegen said he was "sorry". The 23-year-old Deceunink runner, whose condition remains serious but stable, underwent five-hour head surgery overnight, doctors at the hospital where he is being treated said Thursday morning .
"READ ALSO - Lefévère and the Jakobsen accident:" It was a very dirty action, we filed a complaint "
Jakobsen crashed heavily shortly before the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Poland on Wednesday. The defending Dutch champion was crushed by compatriot Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) in a sprint at full speed, downhill, and was thrown over the barriers. Groenewegen, who had surgery for a broken collarbone, apologized on Twitter Thursday. “I think it's terrible what happened yesterday. I can't find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and others who have fallen or been hit. At the moment, Fabio's health is the most important thing. I think about him all the time, ”Groenewegen wrote. “Dylan feels very bad about what happened. He was deeply affected by it. Soon we will discuss the incident in detail with him, ”said Richard Plugge, general manager of Jumbo-Visma training. This did not prevent Patrick Lefevere, the boss of the Deceuninck team, from announcing that he had filed a complaint.
“It was a very dirty action from Groenewegen. We don't do that kind of thing. We have already lodged a complaint with the UCI and we will do the same with the police in Poland. We will not let this pass ”
Patrick Lefevere, boss of the Deceuninck team“It was a very dirty action from Groenewegen. We don't do that kind of thing. We have already lodged a complaint with the UCI and we will do the same with the police in Poland. We will not let that go by, ”he told the Belga agency. “I've watched this sprint dozens of times. I do not understand Groenewegen's action at all. A rider must stay on his line, ”added Lefevere. On Thursday evening, the Katowice (south) prosecutor's office announced the opening of an investigation into the accident. “So far, three witnesses have been interviewed, including a representative of the race organizers. During the proceedings, other witnesses will be heard, and the collected evidence will be analyzed, ”Beata Ksiazek-Nowicka from the Katowice prosecutor's office told PAP.
»READ ALSO - Between stupor, anger and incomprehension, the world of cycling prays for Jakobsen
Katowice police have already collected the crash records, along with the bikes of the injured riders, according to the agency, while investigators are to review race-related documentation and medical documentation. While medics have a feared time for Jakobsen's life, they finally managed to stabilize his condition late Wednesday evening and were expected to attempt to pull him out of a coma on Thursday. "A CT scan was done and the brain does not appear to have been damaged," Pawel Gruenpeter, deputy director of Sosnowiec hospital, told Polish media. “The main injuries are on the face. Fortunately, the eyes were not affected, ”said the deputy director of the hospital. On Thursday morning, race organizer Czeslaw Lang said he was "somewhat relieved" after speaking to medics. “After seeing the accident, we feared the worst, but now we know the situation is serious but stabilized,” he added.
Mr. Lang gave reassuring news of the race marshal hit hard by Jakobsen: "He has regained consciousness and his condition is stable." If Groenewegen is generally designated as the first person responsible for the accident - he was moreover quickly disqualified -, the race organizer was also singled out for the choice of a downhill false-flat finish, thus only for the type of barriers used. “Every year, the same idiotic downhill sprint at the Tour of Poland”, reacted in particular the German Simon Geschke. “Every year I wonder why the organization thinks this is a good idea. Massive sprints are quite dangerous, you don't need a descent at 80 km / h! ” Jakobsen's fall came a year to the day after the death of Belgian hopeful Bjorg Lambrecht (22), who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the same Tour of Poland.
Marc Sarreau, caught in the fall, does not incriminate Groenewegen
The reactions have multiplied since the incident on Wednesday on the Tour of Poland. In the columns of L'Equipe this Friday, Marc Sarreau, sprinter of Groupama-FDJ, does not overwhelm the culprit. And explains it with clarity. "He will pay off and serve as an example because it is a serious accident and there is nothing to be done against the images. But there are cases of dangerous maneuvering that have not caused any downgrading. (…) He (Groenewegen) does not move suddenly either, as we can sometimes see. (…) On the other hand, we see that he clearly touches Jakobsen, flush with the barriers. And that cannot start from a good intention. (On the fact that he is the only one at fault) No, it is a bit the organizer because it is a false downward dish and that it is dangerous. ”
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- Lefévère and the Jakobsen accident: "It was a very dirty action, we filed a complaint"