Janice R. Andrews
The Tour of the Basque Country’s stage four collision on Thursday left reigning Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard with a difficult path to recovery. The revelation that Vingegaard, a well-known personality in racing, had sustained serious injuries that cast doubt on his ability to defend his Tour de France crown shocked the riding community.
Team Visma records state that Vingegaard was injured in the collision with a shattered clavicle, many broken ribs, a pulmonary contusion, and a collapsed lung (pneumothorax). After spending a night in the hospital, the team reported that Vingegaard’s status was stable despite the severity of his injuries, however he is still being monitored and cared for.
The tragedy happened as cyclists were navigating a right turn on a downhill, around 40 kilometers from the finish line. Other notable Grand Tour winners including Primož Roglič and Remco Evenepoel were among the cyclists involved in the collision.
Evenepoel, the winner of the 2022 Vuelta a España, had a fractured collarbone and a shattered right shoulder blade in addition to Vingegaard’s tragedy. Evenepoel addressed the matter and expressed confidence for a recovery in a statement released by his Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team. He also emphasized the need of staying focused on his long-term goals despite the setback.
Beyond Vingegaard and Evenepoel, several cyclists also sustained significant injuries in the aftermath of the incident. Sean Quinn of EF Pro Cycling had a concussion and a cracked sternum, while Jay Vine of Team Emirates suffered fractures to his cervical and thoracic spine vertebral bodies.
Due to the Paris Olympics, the Tour de France has been postponed to start on June 29 of this year. Vingegaard’s ability to retain his championship will depend on how well he recovers from his injury. The cycling community is eagerly awaiting any updates on his condition and is still optimistic for a full recovery.
The event emphasizes the resiliency needed by cyclists who face such circumstances and serves as a sobering reminder of the perils inherent in professional cycling. Hopes are high for Vingegaard and the other wounded riders’ quick and full recovery so they can go back on the road and follow their passion. The cycling community is supporting Vingegaard and the other injured cyclists.
