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news
Video: Concussed pro cyclist almost run over at Tour of California
Shocking footage from yesterday's Amgen Tour of California shows a neutral service mechanic helping Cannondale-Drapac rider Toms Skujins back onto his bike despite the rider being clearly extremely dazed following a heavy crash, the Latvian narrowly avoiding getting hit by race vehicles and fellow riders as he staggered across the road.
La violence de cette chute. Le coureur a frôlé la mort 3 fois.#AmgenTOC pic.twitter.com/VuaD6kVndB
— Christus_Rex (@Christus_Rex) May 15, 2017
Skujins, who had been riding in the break when he crashed, sustained concussion, a left collarbone fracture, and road rash, said his team, which pulled him off the race immediately it became aware of the seriousness of the situation.
The Latvian rider, twice a stage winner at the race, said: “I’m feeling all right.
“I’m really bummed, of course. Besides that, I’m healthy. I’m good.
"We’ll assess with the team doctors and figure things out moving forward.
"Thank you to all the messages from my fans and my friends — but I won’t be able to answer them because I shouldn’t be looking at my phone.”
I would never suggest getting in a fight with tarmac because you will loose. pic.twitter.com/YCqHNbgwDc
— Toms Skujiņš (@Tomashuuns) May 16, 2017
The team's sports director, Tom Southam, said: “Toms' crash obviously had a huge impact on us today.
"It was a high-speed crash and unfortunately it happened at a time when the race was fragmented, which delays information and makes these situations extremely hard.
"Toms instinctively continued riding but it was clear that he couldn’t go on.
"It’s a blow for the team and for his own ambitions but that was a serious fall, and racing can take a back seat while he heals.”
He is now subject to the team's internal concussion protocol which will involve its medical staff working alongside him to determine when he can return to racing.
Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of team owner Slipstream Sports, said: “Concussion recovery varies from person to person and from day to day.
"We’ll evaluate Toms daily and he’ll need to pass a cognitive test before he returns to hard training or racing.
"His health is the most important thing to all of us.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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16 comments
You get knocked out - even for 1s - in motorsport and you will not be continuing for 2 weeks. Cycling doesn't seem to give two monkeys as regards this sort of thing.
Im sure there are but most times there don't appear to be any real rules for dealing with pileups other than 'try and drive the support vehicles around them'
On two wheels they do take it more seriously,World Superbikes in particular seem to be leading on that,if your head hits the ground in a crash that's generally you out of the race weekend no questions,no appeals and getting medically approved to race in the next. But on 4 wheels nope not really taken that seriously still, Carlos Sainz Jr after 200mph F1 crash, quick check over in hospital for broken bones,and few questions about how he felt and he was allowed straight back behind the wheel in an F1 race whilst he still felt dizzy he admitted later!!
This guy has iron will. That's what I see here, that's what I like!
It's what happens with Concussion/brain injury - people try to carry on, since people are confused so they stick to the last thing they where doing.
Yep, and it's not something to be encouraged and/or admired when it's that serious.
Other sports have been through this - the slow realisation that allowing concussed participants to continue isn't terribly good for them or the sport. However, there could be a lot of pressure for the team and an added fear from the concussed athlete that they would let their teammates down or risk their contract by quitting.
I'm not going to criticise the moto driver though - cyclist do have a reputation for getting back on their bikes whenever possible. Imagine if he had got involved and laid a hand on the rider and the rider had swung at him? Or the team had criticised him for stopping the rider from doing his job? It's obvious to us on watching the clip, but there are a million distractions he may have been dealing with, and to get hold of a rider who may have been physically aggressive? Adrenalin combined with concussion is a funny thing.
Concussion is a bitch - I've had it three times and I still remember the headaches whenever I tried to exert myself physically.
Well, we all know that after a crash priority number 1 = "Is my bike OK?"... the moto rider clearly just initiating that protocol checking the brakes / spinning the wheel etc, making sure it's OK and getting the bike to safety (Don't want anybody hitting that bike - Carbon fibre can't be repaired like human bones you know!)before going to deal with priority #2: rider in bits on the tarmac...except it didn't really look like he was about to do that!
(**shakes head at moto rider, wonders where everybody else who could have helped was, hums Muppet theme tune**)
Althoug to be fair, watching it again (ghoul, I know) It doesn't look like the moto guy helped him on the bike as the article suggests, he just doesn't stop him or look like he did much in a positive way to help?
Sheesh, I know it's tricky to walk in cleats but he's making a meal of it.
Latvians are tough as nails, and feisty, and beautiful!
*happily, nay - joyfully, married to a beautiful Latvian lady for 13 years
I had the privilege of meeting Toms. Tough, no BS, nice guy. He'll be back on bike in no time.
Get well soon Toms.
This is quite serious, contact sports such as rugby have concussion protocols to protect players. I was surprised when Geraint Thomas returned to the TDF moments after being taken out on a corner and smashing his head against a telegraph pole in 2015. I may be overly cautious I do think the UCI should introduce a similar protocol.
Why did someone pass him his bike back when he could barely walk. Moto's should know much better than that
I must say, he looks very chipper for someone who's just lost an arm!
Go away. Batin'!
WTF! Lay down man
I take it you are both fully conversant with being concussed? (yes that is indeed sarcasm)
Wonderful lack of both sympathy and understanding.
Insert 'not sure if serious' gif