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Katowice (Poland): Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen was 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.
“His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened,” tour doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport. “Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood. He is very strong. I hope he will survive.”
Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the “dangerous behaviour” of Groenewegen. Deceuninck-Quick Step tweeted: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabio Jakobsen. When we have news, we will let you know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.” 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. “It was an unfair fight and one of the riders suffered tremendously, two more suffered as well,” Tour organiser Czeslaw Lang told TVP Sport. (AFP)
“His condition is very serious. His life is directly threatened,” tour doctor Barbara Jerschina told Polsat Sport. “Unfortunately, it is a serious head and brain injury. He has lost a lot of blood. He is very strong. I hope he will survive.”
Governing body, the UCI said they strongly condemned the “dangerous behaviour” of Groenewegen. Deceuninck-Quick Step tweeted: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Fabio Jakobsen. When we have news, we will let you know. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.” 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. “It was an unfair fight and one of the riders suffered tremendously, two more suffered as well,” Tour organiser Czeslaw Lang told TVP Sport. (AFP)
