Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal, winner of the Tour de France in 2019 and the Giro d'Italia in 2021, crashed into a bus on Monday while training on a highway in his country.
Bernal, 25, was driving at high speed on the highway between Bogotá and Tunja, north of the Colombian capital, when at 10 in the morning he crashed into the back of a bus that had just stopped, according to the report. transit police.
Bernal underwent "successful" surgery for a spinal injury, according to the clinic at the University of La Sabana, and is now beginning a rehabilitation that leaves doubts about his return to competition.
Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal wins the Giro d'Italia
May 31, 202100:33
The medical part indicated that Bernal will begin "immediately the rehabilitation process to achieve the best possible results."
However, the cyclist will continue to be in intensive care for the next 72 hours, waiting "for him to respond to the management that was established for this high-energy trauma."
Colombian Egan Bernal wins the Giro d'Italia trophy
May 31, 202100:26
Specialists believe that spinal surgery is the most delicate of those that the cyclist has undergone after the serious accident, which also forced repair of the fracture in several parts of the right femur and patella.
People close to Bernal fear that the great physical qualities of the athlete have been compromised, and not only for the July 2022 Tour. Doctors have not made a prognosis about the time that his recovery will require.
shock from the accident
The Colombian president, Iván Duque, wished Bernal a speedy recovery through the social network Twitter: "We trust that his state of health will evolve satisfactorily and that he can continue reaping triumphs for Colombia."
Colombian cyclists Rigoberto Urán, Miguel Ángel López and Nairo Quintana sent messages of encouragement to Bernal.
“I send my colleague Egan Bernal a hug of strength, I am aware of what this type of situation entails, I also know that it is always possible to get up and continue with more strength.
Speedy recovery!” Quintana tweeted.
With information from AP, Efe and
El País.