Spanish pro cyclist Jaume Guardeño has been transferred from intensive care to a specialist neurological injury rehabilitation centre, just under two months on from a training crash involving a motorist which left him in critical condition.
Guardeño, who rides for Caja Rural-Seguros RGA and finished 14th at last year’s Vuelta a España, was airlifted to Tauli Hospital in Sabadell, Catalonia, with serious injuries following the crash on 31 March.
Initial media reports from Spain suggested that the 23-year-old lost control when he hit a rock in the road, before then colliding with a car being driven on the same route. No further details have been released, and there is no suggestion that the crash was caused by anything other than the rider hitting the rock.
Guardeño was taken to intensive care and remained in critical condition for over two weeks, undergoing a series of procedures, his team said.
On Tuesday, exactly seven weeks on from the crash, Caja Rural confirmed that Guardeño has now been moved from intensive care to a rehabilitation centre in Barcelona, focusing on brain and spinal cord injuries.
“Jaume Guardeño has been transferred in the last few hours to the Guttmann Clinic in Barcelona, a reference centre specialising in neurorehabilitation and treatment of serious neurological injuries,” the team said.
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“The cyclist from Alicante is facing serious injuries after the accident he suffered while training on March 31, and will now be treated by the specialised medical team at the Guttmann Clinic.
“From Caja Rural-Seguros RGA we continue to extend our full support and solidarity to Jaume, as well as to his family and friends, accompanying them in this difficult time.
“On behalf of the team and the family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the exceptional care received during the transfer in the Servimedic ambulance, as well as for all the care provided at the Parc Taulí Hospital in Sabadell.
“Special thanks to the HEMS helicopter emergency service; the critical and semi-critical care unit of the ICU, led by Doctors Andrey Rodríguez and Guillem Gruartmoner de Vera; and the entire neurosurgery and maxillofacial team.”
The team did not, however, release any further details about the extent of Guardeño’s injuries or the circumstances which led to his crash.
The 23-year-old Spanish climber finished 29th overall, and third in the young riders classification, at March’s Volta a Catalunya, which finished in Barcelona just two days before he crashed in training.
Guardeño also impressed at last year’s Vuelta, taking four top 20 placings in his home grand tour’s final week, before finishing 14th on GC. Following that breakthrough ride, it was highly likely that he would have been included in Caja Rural’s eight-rider squad for the Tour de France, the Spanish team set to make their debut in July at cycling’s biggest race, which this year kicks off in Barcelona.
1 thought on “Spanish pro cyclist moved from intensive care to specialist neurological injury centre almost two months after collision with driver during training ride”
Poor kid I hope he’s able to fully recover and compete in the pro peleton again.