poland tour de france crash

Dutch Cyclist Suffers Serious Injuries After Horrific Crash in Tour of Poland

Fabio Jakobsen was run into the barrier by Dylan Groenewegen during the final sprint of Stage 1.

Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen, 23, of team Deceuninck-Quickstep, is in a medically induced coma after being involved in a violent crash on Wednesday at the Tour of Poland.

During the final sprint of Stage 1 in Katowice, Poland, Dylan Groenewegen, of team Jumbo-Visma, deviated from his line and caused Jakobsen to collide with a barrier at high speed.

According to a press release Wednesday from the Deceuninck-Quickstep team, Jakobsen, who was placed in a medically induced coma after the crash, was in serious but stable condition, and tests “didn’t reveal brain or spinal injury.” In an update , the team shared that he underwent facial surgery overnight, and he remains in a coma, but doctors will attempt to wake him up sometime on Thursday.

Numerous other riders at the front of the pack and bystanders were also involved in the crash; one race official suffered a head injury, but is now in stable condition, according to race organizers .

Jakobsen was given the stage win, and Groenewegen—who incurred a broken collarbone during the crash and underwent surgery, per a press release from his team—was disqualified from the race and faces pending sanctions from the UCI’s disciplinary commission.

“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) strongly condemns the dangerous behaviour of rider Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma), who sent Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quick-Step) into the barriers a few metres from the finish, causing a collective crash at the end of the first stage of the Tour de Pologne,” the UCI stated in a press release .

“I find it terrible what happened yesterday. I can’t find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and the others who crashed or were involved. What matters most now is Fabio’s health. I think about him all the time,” Groenewegen said, according to the team’s press release.

The cycling community is not only condemning Groenewegen’s actions in the final sprint, but also calling into question the race’s barrier setup and some of the sport’s rules and safety protocols, which former pros say amplified the seriousness of the crash (if not encouraged and led to it). The UCI did not respond to Bicycling ’s inquiry concerning safer barriers and possible revisions to race rules and safety protocol at the time of publishing.

Former pro cyclist Tom Danielson posted a 10-minute video on Instagram , strongly denouncing Groenewegen’s actions, and what he sees as a severe and dangerous lack of leadership across the sport from the UCI, cycling federations, and even team management with their lack of proper safety training. He called into question the race’s finish-line design and barrier setup, the sport’s rules surrounding the finish-line sprint, insufficient safety protocol, and more.

“There’s not one sprinter that signs up for cycling to risk their life to crash, or to be part of that ... No one wants to sprint down a hill at 70 miles an hour, at 60 miles an hour, in a narrow chute,” Danielson said in his video . “These riders have tremendous skills, and I think those tremendous skills are taken advantage of. They have been for years. ... No one even understands why there’s 200 people at the back of this crashing, kamikaze airplane that ran into some bullshit barrier on the side of the road.”

Another former pro cyclist and sprint specialist, Robbie McEwen, criticized Groenewegen’s actions in a Tweet , and laid blame on the UCI.

Major crashes aren’t new to the Tour of Poland. Jakobsen’s crash comes exactly one year after the Tour of Poland crash that claimed the life of Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht , who “crashed into a concrete barrier during the third stage.”

This story will be updated as we learn more about Jakobsen’s condition.

.css-1t6om3g:before{width:1.75rem;height:1.75rem;margin:0 0.625rem -0.125rem 0;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-background-size:1.25rem;background-size:1.25rem;background-color:#F8D811;color:#000;background-repeat:no-repeat;-webkit-background-position:center;background-position:center;}.loaded .css-1t6om3g:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/bicycling/static/images/chevron-design-element.c42d609.svg);} Racing

2024 Tour de Suisse Women: How to Watch

Coryn Labecki Q&A: Joy and the Thrill of Racing

2024 Tour of Belgium: Preview & How to Watch

Egan Bernal Remains Focused on His Comeback

2024 Tour of Slovenia: Preview & How to Watch

Primož Roglič Wins the 2024 Critérium du Dauphiné

2024 Tour de Suisse: How to Watch, Route, & Faves

Can Roglič Still Win a Major Race This Year?

Major Crash Neutralizes Stage 5 at Dauphiné

Red Bull Rampage Welcomes Women Riders in 2024

Derek Gee Claims First Professional Victory

Cycling horror: 80kph crash sparked by ‘criminal act’ leaves rider fighting for his life

Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was in a coma, fighting for his life on Wednesday after he was thrown into and over a barrier at 80km/h in a sickening conclusion to the opening stage of the Tour of Poland.

Footage showed 23-year-old Jakobsen, of the Deceuninck-Quick Step, racing elbow-to-elbow with fellow Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen of Jumbo-Visma as both men frantically tussled in a tight sprint to the line in Katowice.

However, Jakobsen came off worst, somersaulting over the barriers before colliding with a photographer after Groenewegen had veered suddenly to the right, squeezing his rival into the security wall.

Kayo is your ticket to the best sport streaming Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >

“His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened,” Tour of Poland doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport.

“Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood.”

Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the “dangerous behaviour” of Groenewegen.

Deceuninck-Quick Step team boss Patrick Lefevere described Groenewegen’s move as a “criminal act”.

Later on Wednesday, his condition was described by hospital officials as “serious” but “stabilised”.

“The patient was transported in serious condition, he was placed in a cerebral coma. His condition has stabilised. He has multiple injuries to his head and chest,” said Pawel Gruenpeter, a neurologist at the hospital in Sosnowiec in the south of the country.

“He will be in an intensive care unit and will undergo craniofacial surgery. The intervention of specialists in jaw and plastic surgery will be necessary.

“The time of the operation will depend on the patient’s state of health,” he told TVP Sport television.

The incident comes a year to the day after the death of 22-year-old Belgian sprinter Bjorg Lambrecht, who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the 2019 Tour of Poland.

Groenewegen went on to win the stage but was later disqualified with the stricken Jakobsen declared the winner.

The UCI said it “strongly condemns the dangerous behaviour of Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma), who sent Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) into the barriers a few metres from the finish, causing a collective crash at the end of the first stage of the Tour of Poland.

‘CRIMINAL ACT’

A statement added: “Groenewegen was disqualified from the race by the commissaires’ panel.

“The UCI, which considers the behaviour unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the disciplinary commission to request the imposition of sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the facts.”

“I am going to court. These kinds of actions must be outside cycling. It is a criminal act, sir”, tweeted Patrick Lefevere, general manager of the Deceuninck-Quick Step team.

Jumbo-Visma, meanwhile, offered its “sincere apologies” for Groenewegen’s behaviour.

“Our hearts go out to Fabio Jakobsen and others involved in today’s terrible crash on the Tour of Poland,” they said.

“Accidents like these should not happen. We sincerely apologise and will discuss internally what happened before we make another statement.”

Others who crashed in the ensuing pile-up included Marc Sarreau of Groupama-FDJ as competitors became entangled in a desperate bid to avoid each other as well as the debris from the destroyed barriers.

“Marc Sarreau suffers an important trauma to the shoulder and also from multiple tearing of the ligaments. He is going to need further medical tests,” tweeted his team.

Damien Touze “remained conscious despite the fall. He is in hospital for further examinations,” his Cofidis team tweeted.

The drama came at the end of the first stage, raced over 198km from Chorzow to Katowice in southern Poland.

Jakobsen is considered a rising star of the sprint in the peloton who made his name in 2019 with two stage wins on the Vuelta a Espana, one of the sport’s three Grand Tours.

Having turned professional in 2018 with Patrick Lefevere’s Quick-Step team, Jakobsen donned the Dutch champion’s jersey in June last year.

In last year’s Tour of Poland he was third on the opening stage. Groenewegen, 27, is a four-time stage winner on the Tour de France, including the final stage in 2017 on the Champs Elysees in Paris.bo-dj/iwd

• Associated Press ,

• Nick Zaccardi ,

Trending Teams

Cyclist in induced coma after tour of poland crash.

• OlympicTalk ,
• OlympicTalk

KATOWICE, POLAND - AUGUST 05: Sprint / Arrival / Dylan Groenewegen of The Netherlands and Team Jumbo - Visma / Fabio Jakobsen of The Netherlands and Team Deceuninck - Quick-Step / Marc Sarreau of France and Team Groupama - FDJ / Luka Mezgec of Slovenia and Team Mitchelton - Scott / Ryan Gibbons of South Africa and NTT Pro Cycling Team / Moreno Hofland of The Netherlands and Team EF Education First / Jasper Philipsen of Belgium and UAE Team Emirates / Szymon Sajnok of Poland and CCC Team / during the 77th Tour of Poland 2020, Stage 1 a 195,8km stage from Silesian Stadium-Chorzów to Spodek-Katowice / @Tour_de_Pologne / #tdp20 / on August 05, 2020 in Katowice, Poland. (Photo by Luc Claessen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was put into an induced coma Wednesday after suffering injuries in a crash on the final stretch of the Tour of Poland, organizers said.

A massive crash at the finish of the first stage resulted in Dylan Groenewegen ‘s disqualification from the race.

Leading a bunch sprint, Groenewegen veered toward the right barrier, pinching countryman Jakobsen, who barreled into the barrier meters from the finish line.

Jakobsen went head over heels, his bike went airborne and the barriers exploded onto the road, causing more cyclists to crash.

Jakobsen was airlifted to a hospital in serious condition and was put into an induced coma, the Tour de Pologne press office said.

Doctor Pawel Gruenpeter of the hospital in Sosnowiec said Jakobsen suffered injuries to the head and chest but that his condition was stable at the intensive care unit. Jakobsen will need surgery to his face and skull, Gruenpeter told state broadcaster TVP Sport.

Groenewegen crossed the finish line first but was disqualified, giving Jakobsen the stage win, according to the stage race website .

Groenewegen, a 27-year-old Jumbo-Visma rider, owns four Tour de France stage wins among the last three years.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) “strongly condemned” Groenewegen’s “dangerous” and “unacceptable” behavior. It referred Groenewegen’s actions to a disciplinary commission for possible sanctions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

Cycling: Jakobsen in coma after Tour of Poland crash branded 'criminal act'

WARSAW (AFP) - Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was in a coma, fighting for his life on Wednesday (Aug 5) after he was thrown into and over a barrier at 80kmh in a sickening conclusion to the opening stage of the Tour of Poland.

Footage showed 23-year-old Jakobsen, of the Deceuninck-Quick Step, racing elbow-to-elbow with fellow Dutchman Dylan Groenewegen of Jumbo-Visma as both men frantically tussled in a tight sprint to the line in Katowice.

However, Jakobsen came off worst, somersaulting over the barriers before colliding with a photographer after Groenewegen had veered suddenly to the right, squeezing his rival into the security wall.

"His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened," Tour of Poland doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport.

"Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood."

Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the "dangerous behaviour" of Groenewegen.

Deceuninck-Quick Step team boss Patrick Lefevere described Groenewegen's move as a "criminal act".

Later on Wednesday, his condition was described by hospital officials as "serious" but "stabilised".

"The patient was transported in serious condition, he was placed in a cerebral coma. His condition has stabilised. He has multiple injuries to his head and chest," said Pawel Gruenpeter, a neurologist at the hospital in Sosnowiec in the south of the country.

"He will be in an intensive care unit and will undergo craniofacial surgery. The intervention of specialists in jaw and plastic surgery will be necessary.

"The time of the operation will depend on the patient's state of health," he told TVP Sport television.

The incident comes a year to the day after the death of 22-year-old Belgian sprinter Bjorg Lambrecht, who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the 2019 Tour of Poland.

Groenewegen went on to win the stage but was later disqualified with the stricken Jakobsen declared the winner.

The UCI said it "strongly condemns the dangerous behaviour of Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma), who sent Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) into the barriers a few metres from the finish, causing a collective crash at the end of the first stage of the Tour of Poland.

'CRIMINAL ACT'

A statement added: "Groenewegen was disqualified from the race by the commissaires' panel.

"The UCI, which considers the behaviour unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the disciplinary commission to request the imposition of sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the facts."

"I am going to court. These kinds of actions must be outside cycling. It is a criminal act, sir", tweeted Patrick Lefevere, general manager of the Deceuninck-Quick Step team.

Jumbo-Visma, meanwhile, offered its "sincere apologies" for Groenewegen's behaviour.

"Our hearts go out to Fabio Jakobsen and others involved in today's terrible crash on the Tour of Poland," they said.

"Accidents like these should not happen. We sincerely apologise and will discuss internally what happened before we make another statement."

Others who crashed in the ensuing pile-up included Marc Sarreau of Groupama-FDJ as competitors became entangled in a desperate bid to avoid each other as well as the debris from the destroyed barriers.

"Marc Sarreau suffers an important trauma to the shoulder and also from multiple tearing of the ligaments. He is going to need further medical tests," tweeted his team.

Damien Touze "remained conscious despite the fall. He is in hospital for further examinations," his Cofidis team tweeted.

The drama came at the end of the first stage, raced over 198km from Chorzow to Katowice in southern Poland.

Jakobsen is considered a rising star of the sprint in the peloton who made his name in 2019 with two stage wins on the Vuelta a Espana, one of the sport's three Grand Tours.

Having turned professional in 2018 with Patrick Lefevere's Quick-Step team, Jakobsen donned the Dutch champion's jersey in June last year.

In last year's Tour of Poland he was third on the opening stage.

Groenewegen, 27, is a four-time stage winner on the Tour de France, including the final stage in 2017 on the Champs Elysees in Paris.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

• Cycling - Sport

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now

• Sports Betting
• Sports Entertainment

Recommended

‘criminal act’ puts cyclist fabio jakobsen in coma after terrifying crash.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

A terrifying crash in the Tour of Poland has left Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen in an induced coma.

The crash occurred as Jakobsen battled for victory with countryman Dylan Groenwegen, who races for Jumbo-Visma, near the finish line. Groenwegen suddenly veered right, sending Jakobsen flying through the roadside barriers and causing and ensuing pile-up.

Jakobsen was awarded the victory after Groenwegen, who crossed the line first,  was disqualified. Jakobsen’s Deceuninck Quick-Step team suggested there was ill-intent.

“I am going to court,” the team’s general manager Patrick Lefevere tweeted. “These kinds of actions must be outside cycling. It is a criminal act, sir.”

Police and prosecutors in Katowice are in fact investigating the crash. Governing body UCI has also condemned Groenwegen’s actions.

“Groenewegen was disqualified from the race by the commissaires’ panel,” UCI said in a statement. “The UCI, which considers the behavior unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the disciplinary commission to request the imposition of sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the facts.”

Jakobsen, 23, underwent a five-hour surgery on his skull and face at St. Barbara’s Specialized Hospital, according to the AP, but had no brain or spinal injuries. Hospital deputy director Pawel Gruenpeter said “there is no direct threat to his life now,” and that they will attempt to bring him out of the induced coma later Thursday.

“I can’t find words to describe how bad I find it for Fabio and others who fell or were hit,” Groenewegen tweeted. “At the moment, Fabio’s health is the most important thing. I’m thinking of him constantly.”

The incident occurred a year to the day after Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht died in the hospital due to injuries caused by a crash into the concrete barriers at the same race. Multiple racers have called on UCI to improve the safety barriers surrounding the cyclists.

“Situations like yesterday must make the UCI reflect on the current conditions of the race, they are no longer the 80′s when the mattress was sufficient for protection,” Italian cyclist Alessandro De Marchi tweeted. “Today the speeds are absurd, we need an evolution in safety measures, and also how certain race actions are judged: we need tolerance zero!”

Share this article:

• Race calendar
• Tour de France
• Vuelta a España
• Giro d'Italia
• Dare to Dream
• All Competitions
• Tennis Home
• Calendar - Results
• Australian Open
• Roland-Garros
• Cycling Home
• Football Home
• Fixtures - Results
• Premier League
• Champions League
• All leagues
• Snooker Home
• World Championship
• UK Championship
• Major events
• Olympics Home
• Mountain Bike Home
• UCI Track CL Home
• Men's standings
• Women's standings
• Alpine Skiing Home
• Athletics Home
• Diamond League
• World Championships
• World Athletics Indoor Championships
• Biathlon Home
• Cross-Country Skiing Home
• Cycling - Track
• Equestrian Home
• Figure Skating Home
• Formula E Home
• Calendar - results
• DP World Tour
• MotoGP Home
• Motorsports Home
• Speedway GP
• Clips and Highlights
• Rugby World Cup predictor
• Premiership
• Champions Cup
• Challenge Cup
• All Leagues
• Ski Jumping Home
• Speedway GP Home
• Superbikes Home
• The Ocean Race Home
• Triathlon Home
• Hours of Le Mans
• Winter Sports Home

Fabio Jakobsen on 2020 horror crash with Dylan Groenewegen - 'The goal was to just become a normal man again'

Updated 07/03/2023 at 13:12 GMT

Fabio Jakobsen has reflected on his huge crash at the 2020 Tour of Poland that put him in an induced coma. Jakobsen collided with Dylan Groenewegen in a bunch sprint, with the latter being deemed at fault for deviating from his line. Groenewegen was suspended for nine months while Jakobsen made a remarkable recovery and was back racing just eight months after the accident.

‘It made me humble and grateful’ – Jakobsen opens up on horror crash

Highlights: Vollering proves too strong once more with Stage 4 win, triumphs overall

• Pedersen wins messy sprint to take overall lead, Pogacar grabs more bonus seconds
• Ganna storms to Stage 1 victory with stunning time trial

‘It was a hard time’ – Groenewegen on bouncing back from Jakobsen crash after Stage 3 win

‘What can you say?’ – Vollering takes third stage win in four days, extends GC lead

Highlights: bradbury crosses line alongside niewiadoma for win on stage 3 of tour of switzerland, bradbury takes stage 3 of tour of switzerland, crossing line alongside team-mate niewiadoma.

Tour of Poland crash: Groenewegen apologises, cycling world erupts over race safety

"what matters most now is fabio’s health. i think about him all the time.”.

This video tweeted by Alex Rasmussen shows the difference in barrier standards at the Tour de France and the Tour of Poland Source: Supplied

Reckless sprint leaves Jakobsen in fight for life at Tour of Poland

"I can’t find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and the others who crashed or were involved."

"It is the strongest fall I have ever had as a professional," Prades said. "I have checked the speed of the sprint and I was going 81km/h at impact."

'I risked losing Milan-San Remo to win it' - Matt Goss

Have a story or comment contact us.

Share this with family and friends

Recommended for you

Full Race: Stage 6 - Criterium du Dauphine 2024

Criterium du Dauphine

Aussie Team Directors - Tour de France history

SBS Sport Inclusion: June Pride Month Ep2 - The Choice

Full Event: Round 4, Maitland - ProMX Championship 2024

Beginner's guide to the 2024 Tour de France

SBS Sport Inclusion: June Pride Month Ep3 - The Challenge

Full Race: Stage 5 - Criterium du Dauphine 2024

SBS Sport Inclusion: June Pride Month Ep4 - The Future

Sbs sport newsletter, sign up now for the latest sport news from australia and around the world direct to your inbox..

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Tour de Pologne disrupted by high-speed crash

Several people taken to hospital after the incident

At least half a dozen riders were injured in a high-speed crash on the opening stage of the Tour de Pologne , including Dutch champion Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep), Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma), Marc Sarreau (Groupama-FDJ) and Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates), Damien Touze (Cofidis) and Eduard Prades (Movistar).

Jackobsen was the worst affected and was airlifted to hospital in a serious condition, as was a course-side official who was impacted by the crash.

Jumbo-Visma issued a statement on the crash, writing: "Our thoughts go out to Fabio Jakobsen and other people involved in today’s terrible crash in the Tour of Poland. Crashes like these should not happen.

"We offer our sincere apologies and we will discuss internally what has happened before we may make any further statement."

Groenewegen and Jakobsen clashed elbow-to-elbow just ahead of the finish line with the Deceuninck-Quickstep rider crashing into the course barriers, which then separated and flew across the road.

The force of the impact caused Groenewegen to fall with Philipsen unable to avoid the fallen Jumbo-Visma rider and the barricade causing the other riders to fall.

Sarreau and Touze were conscious and taken to hospital for further examinations, while Philipsen's team reported he had suffered only contusions.

Get The Leadout Newsletter

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!

Groupama-FDJ later reported that Sarreau, awarded second place on the stage, had suffered damage to the ligaments in his shoulder and would not continue in the race.

Cyclingnews will update this article as information becomes available.

We’ll let you know @FabioJakobsen as soon as we have some news from #TDP20. Let’s hope for the best. August 5, 2020

Every year the same silly downhill sprint in the @Tour_de_Pologne.Every year i ask myself why the organisation thinks it‘s a good idea. Bunch sprints are dangerous enough, you don’t need a downhill finish with 80kph!@cpacycling August 5, 2020

Fingers crossed for @FabioJakobsen 🙏🙏🙏 August 5, 2020

Stay strong @FabioJakobsen 🙏🏼 We are all with you 💪🏼 August 5, 2020

Damien stayed conscious after the crash and is at the hospital for extra exams. We will give you some news when we’ll have a full dignostic. August 5, 2020

#TDP20 Thankfully just some abrasions for @JasperPhilipsen after a hard crash in the sprint. @sebasmolano_ also ok after an earlier fall.Our best wishes to the other riders involved 🙏 pic.twitter.com/KEuwCOL7i0 August 5, 2020

This was not the way I hoped to reach the finish line. My biggest concern now is @FabioJakobsen. Thoughts are with him, @deceuninck_qst and his family! 🤞(📸 Cor Vos) pic.twitter.com/URk80OC8ed August 5, 2020

Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*

Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets

After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59

Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.

De Crescenzo and Burnett conquer Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina

Santiago Buitrago named as Bahrain Victorious leader for Tour de France

American Criterium Cup: Bryan Gomez and Kimberly Stoveld take solo wins in Wisconsin

Most Popular

TOUR DE FRANCE

Don't miss a moment with our daily Tour de France newsletter.

Powered by Outside

Tour of Poland crash sees riders and race officials blamed

The horrific crash wednesday has seen fingers pointed at dylan groenewegen's wayward sprint and race organizers' route selection..

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

Wednesday marked a dark day for the cycling world after a horror crash at the opening stage of Tour de Pologne .

Dutch national champion Fabio Jakobsen is in a condition described as “serious but stable” after being the center of a high-speed collision during the final seconds of the race’s sprint finish and is being kept in an induced coma in a hospital in Katowice.

Jumbo-Visma sprinter Dylan Groenewegen has been the focus of angry backlash from team staff, riders and fans, after his wayward line in the downhill sprint boxed out Jakobsen, giving the 23-year-old nowhere to go but into the barriers just meters from the finish line. While Groenewegen crossed the line first, he was later disqualified.

A handful of other riders including Marc Sarreau (Groupama-FDJ), Jasper Philipsen (UAE-Team Emirates) and Eduard Prades (Movistar) also fell heavily after Jakobsen was catapulted into the air and into the line of the bunch gallop. A race official behind the barriers was also caught up in the carnage.

Jakobsen’s veteran Deceuninck-Quick-Step manager Patrick Lefevere has reacted with vitriol toward Groenewegen. Having already posted a furious tweet in the moments after the crash, Lefevere spoke in further depth to the Belgian media Wednesday night.

“I’ve never been so angry,” he told Het Nieuwsblad. “What Groenewegen did is criminal. Those are deliberate assault and battery. You do not do that. I have never seen such a dirty action. That’s an assassination attempt.”

“I am considering going straight to the criminal court. I have no understanding of this.”

Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s GC leader at the race Remco Evenepeoel also rounded on the Jumbo-Visma rider, saying on Twitter “They [the UCI] have to do a lifelong suspension!”

The UCI was quick in releasing an official statement on the incident Wednesday, saying that Groenewegen was being referred to a disciplinary commission, also requesting punishment to be brought against him. Jumbo-Visma has also promised further investigation against its marquee sprinter, promising its own separate internal investigations.

Our thoughts go out to Fabio Jakobsen and other people involved in today’s terrible crash in the Tour of Poland. Crashes like these should not happen. We offer our sincere apologies and we will discuss internally what has happened before we may make any further statement. #TDP20 — Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) August 5, 2020

The sprint finish in Katowice has been used many times by the race, and long drawn criticism from the peloton. The wide, sweeping final stretch is set on a gentle downhill and smooth roads, upping sprint speeds to a fearsome 80kph+, with Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) stating he hit 105kph on his way to victory on the same finale in 2018.

While the majority of fingers are pointed toward Groenewegen as the culprit for Wednesday’s horrific accident, some are questioning the suitability of the closing straight.

“Every year the same silly downhill sprint in the Tour de Pologne,” said CCC-Team’s Simon Geschke . “Every year I ask myself why the organization thinks it’s a good idea. Bunch sprints are dangerous enough, you don’t need a downhill finish with 80kph!”

Every year the same silly downhill sprint in the @Tour_de_Pologne . Every year i ask myself why the organisation thinks it‘s a good idea. Bunch sprints are dangerous enough, you don’t need a downhill finish with 80kph! @cpacycling — Simon Geschke (@simongeschke) August 5, 2020

Several top-tier riders reacted in agreement to the German’s words.

Wednesday’s crash marks another dark chapter in the Tour of Poland’s history book. Only hours before Jakobsen and Groenewegen came toward the closing sprint, the day’s racing had gotten underway after a minute’s silence in the Silesian Stadium to mark the anniversary of the death of Bjorg Lambrecht, who died in a crash at the race last year.

Race organizers are yet to confirm whether any special measures will mark Wednesday’s events in the race’s second stage into Zabrze Thursday. However, they did release a statement saying that the race official involved in the crash sustained head injuries but is conscious and stable, adding “We very much wish all the athletes involved in the crash a fast recovery.”

Groupama-FDJ announced that their sprinter Sarreau will not start stage 2 of Tour de Pologne due to torn tendons in his shoulder, while Movistar confirmed that Prades has withdrawn from the race with a fractured cervical vertebra. All other riders involved in the crash are believed to have avoided serious injuries.

Meanwhile, one of Deceuninck-Quick-Step’s key classics talents Yves Lampaert crashed heavily at Wednesday’s Milano-Torino and has broken his collarbone. “I’m okay after my crash today,” Lampaert he said afterward. “Thanks for all the messages! Let’s focus on Fabio and pray everything will turn out okay.”

 We here at VeloNews send our thoughts and prayers to Fabio Jakobsen for a speedy recovery. 

Popular on Velo