English Section

Cyclist in coma after horrific Tour de Pologne crash

05.08.2020 21:10
Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was in an induced coma and fighting for his life after suffering serious injuries in a massive finish-line crash during the first stage of the Tour de Pologne on Wednesday evening, officials said.
Photo:
Photo:PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

The 23-year-old crashed heavily into the barriers while battling for stage victory with countryman Dylan Groenewegen.

Jakobsen was resuscitated at the scene in Katowice, southern Poland, and airlifted to a hospital in what was described as "serious" condition, Poland’s PAP news agency reported.

Several other cyclists and a race official suffered less serious injuries in the pile-up, according to the Polish state news agency.

Groenewegen, meanwhile, was disqualified and excluded from the race for causing the incident, public broadcaster Polish Radio’s IAR news agency reported.

Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel Photo: PAP/Andrzej Grygiel

Poland’s largest cycling race started on Wednesday amid the coronavirus pandemic, attracting more than 150 riders from various countries.

The first leg of the annual event saw them cover a 195.8 km route starting in the city of Chorzów and ending in Katowice in Poland’s southern Silesia region.

Last year's Tour de Pologne was marred by the death of Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht who sustained serious injuries in an accident.

The 22-year-old hit a concrete culvert by the road during the third stage of the race from Chorzów to Zabrze in the south of Poland on August 5, 2019.

(gs/pk)

Source: TVP Sport, PAP, IAR, uci.org