As of: April 4, 2024, 8:20 p.m
By: Christoph Wutz
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A fall overshadows the Tour of the Basque Country. Jonas Vingegaard is in the hospital. It is not the only accident in cycling in recent times.
Legutio – Shock in cycling: The reigning Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard fell badly on the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country and had to be treated in a stable side position. But Vingegaard's team has now given the all-clear. Other top drivers were involved in the collision in northern Spain. For them, the tour comes to an early end.
Next cycling shock: Tour de France winner seriously injured
The Danish cycling superstar Vingegaard, like the Slovenian Primoz Roglic, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel and five other riders, came off the road in a right-hand bend around 35 kilometers from the finish. First, Eritrean Natnael Tesfatsion lost control and fell. Vingegaard rushed into a concrete ditch at high speed. The race was then interrupted for a long time.
Vingegaard's Visma-Lease a bike team gave at least the all-clear a little more than an hour after the accident. The two-time Tour de France winner is “stable and conscious” and has only broken a collarbone and several ribs. However, the 27-year-old will remain in hospital for the time being “as a safety measure”. The day before (April 3rd), the German Lennard Kämna, a teammate of Roglic, had a serious fall during training in Tenerife.
Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard crashed heavily on the Tour of the Basque Country. © Sirotti / Imago
After minutes of treatment: Vingegaard, covered in blood, has to go to hospital
Vingegaard in particular apparently suffered serious injuries in the mass fall in Spain. Television images showed how the Dane was given first aid by carers in a stable side position for several minutes. The 27-year-old's back was covered in blood. Vingegaard was taken away on a stretcher and taken to a hospital.
Giro winner Roglic limped from the scene of the accident. Time trial world champion Evenepoel avoided the ditch, but then fell on the grass. Then he grabbed his collarbone. The Belgian had to be taken to hospital and give up the tour like Vingegaard and overall leader Roglic. The latter was at least able to raise his thumb again when he was sitting in a team car. A German driver was not involved in the mass crash.
In the video: Several cycling stars fall during the Tour of the Basque Country
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The Australian Jay Vine was also seriously injured. However, his team (UAE) also gave the all-clear after the stage and said Vine was conscious. After a long break, the race leaders neutralized the peloton. Only the six outliers who were well ahead of the field at the time of the accident were “allowed” to compete for victory. This was secured by the South African Louis Meintjes from the Intermarché-Wanty team.
“It's very unfortunate and takes away your joy,” said the stage winner immediately after the race about his colleagues' falls. “It may be a victory, but it doesn't feel like it because you want fair conditions for everyone,” said Meintjes, who was noticeably shocked.
After Primoz Roglic's retirement, Mattias Skjelmose took over the overall lead of the Tour of the Basque Country. © Sirotti / Imago
There was already a mass fall in the previous stage of the Tour of the Basque Country
Mattias Skjelmose (Lidl-Trek) from Denmark took over the overall lead from Roglic. He had already caused a mass fall on the third stage when he slipped in a left-hand bend.
The Slovenian suffered abrasions, bruises and bruises, but was able to continue the race and maintain his overall lead - ahead of Evenepoel (second) and Vingegaard (fifth). Vingegaard won last year's edition.
(wuc/SID)