Six members of the German track cycling team were injured in a collision during a training camp in Mallorca on Monday. The collision occurred in the morning on a road near the airport’s industrial area. The riders had just left the hotel when an 89-year-old man drove into the cyclists from behind. There were seven riders training–only one escaped harm.
Despite the severity of the collision, none of the cyclists, including Benjamin Boos, Tobias Buck-Gramcko, Bruno Kessler, Max Briese, Moritz Augenstein, and Louis Gentzik, are in life-threatening condition and were being treated in a local hospital. Police confirmed the driver tested negative for alcohol and is still under investigation, with no signs of braking before the crash.
One rider leaves hospital, another will soon
On Tuesday, Gentzik posted an update on Instagram, saying he avoided serious injuries when a car hit him and five teammates during training in Mallorca. The 18-year-old confirmed he had a hairline fracture in his shoulder, a concussion, and minor lung bruising. He said he will stay in the hospital for two more days for observation before hopefully flying home and resuming training.
Another rider, Kessler, was discharged after doctors found no fractures. He returned to the team hotel with only bruises.
Coach saw it all
Team officials were still in shock, and national team coach Lucas Schädlich, who witnessed the collision, was unavailable for comment according to DPA. While some riders sustained severe injuries, thankfully, none were life-threatening. One rider is expected to be flown to Germany for further treatment.
The riders, part of the endurance national team, were training for next month’s European championships in Belgium. The collision has obviously seriously derailed the team’s upcoming races.
Gentzik also wished his fellow teammates a “speedy recovery” and urged everyone to “take even more care on the road and be considerate of each other.”
The collision took place just days after Italian continental cyclist, Sara Piffer, was killed by a motorist in Italy. Piffer, 19, was riding with her brother when the driver hit her.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…