Life ban ex-pro loses arm in collision with lorry

A former professional cyclist now serving a lifetime ban from the sport for doping has lost an arm after being involved in a collision with a lorry as he rode down a descent near Boulder, Colorado.

The crash happened on Flagstaff Road on Tuesday afternoon as Phil Zajicek, aged 36, rode in a group of between six and eight cyclists travelling at a “high rate of speed,” according to Corporal Shawn Wycoff of the Colorado State Patrol.

He added that it had not yet been established whether the lorry or Zajicek had crossed the centre line of the road when the rider’s arm was severed by the truck’s flatbed, reports the Daily Camera.

Zajicek was said to be in a serious condition in hospital, although he is expected to survive.

During his professional career, the Oregon native rode for teams including Mercury, Saturn and Fly V Australia.

In 2005, when he was with Navigators Insurance, he finished fourth overall at the Tour of Britain.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency banned him for life in 2011 after he failed an anti-doping control and admitted other offences including purchasing EPO.

He was stripped him of all results obtained since 24 April 2007 including his victory on the queen stage of the 2009 Tour of the Gila, the last of the race.

That day, he beat Levi Leipheimer and Lance Armstrong – then preparing for his comeback Tour de France with Astana – in the finale, securing third place overall behind them.