John Degenkolb among Giant-Alpecin riders hurt in training crash
Saturday 23 January 2016 20:34, UK
Six members of the Giant-Alpecin team, including Paris-Roubaix winner John Degenkolb, were taken to hospital after a serious crash during their training camp in Spain.
Degenkolb was riding with Warren Barguil, Chad Haga, Fredrik Ludvigsson, Ramon Sinkeldam and Max Walscheid near Calpe, on the east coast, when the group were in collision with a car coming in the opposite direction.
The riders were taken to two nearby hospitals and all are in a stable condition. Emergency services said two of the riders had sustained multiple fractures but did not disclose their identities.
A Giant-Alpecin team statement read: "Six Team Giant-Alpecin riders were involved in crash in training during the team training camp near Calpe, Spain, today.
"During the training ride, a car coming the other direction rode into the group of riders head on. The riders were riding side by side on their own side of the road."
A photo of the crash scene showed one of the riders' bikes snapped in two.
Team physician Anko Boelens said: "Everyone on the team is in shock right now, and there are some major issues that we need to take care of, but we also realise that we have had some luck on our side.
"Everyone is conscious, stable and approachable, but we are waiting for the latest information and to consult the doctors in those hospitals about the treatments needed for the riders."