The rider and bicycles did a tango dance on the streets of Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, as they tangled up with one another, creating a sense of sheer panic among the directors, mechanics, and medics. The cause of curiosity is, how was such a massive crash sparked. the roads were straight, without as much gravel. Anyhow, the riders managed to go down on the danger-free route.
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Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB) was seen lying on the floor, with her foot stuck in the wheel of another rider. While remembering the horrific crash, Mill told the media:
It was chaotic, people were screaming everywhere, and mechanics, directors, and doctors came running – it was chaotic
Although she managed to finish the race, she does not know what sparked the crash:
I’m not sure, it was a bit in front of me, and then everyone fell over each other and there was no place to go. I didn’t have a choice
Mill was lucky to have just her foot stuck in the wheel. Although the wheel had to be taken off to free her foot, her injury was not as bad as the others. Emma Norsgaard (Movistar) suffered a head injury as well as trauma to her cervical vertebra and shoulder. She had to be taken to Epinal hospital for treatment.
Rotem Gafinovitz (Roland Cogeas Edelweiss), Lily Williams (Human Powered Health), Letizia Borghesi (EF Education-TIBCO-SVB), Coralie Demay (St Michel-Auber93), Marta Bastianelli (UAE Team ADQ), Anais Morichon and Yuliia Biriukova (Arkéa Pro Cycling Team), Olivia Baril (Valcar Travel & Service), Marjolein Van ‘t Geloof (Le Col-Wahoo) and Jesse Vandenbulcke, Gladys Verhulst from (Le Col-Wahoo), Marta Lach (Ceratizit-WNT) are some of the names of those who suffered injuries.
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Van den Broek had to get stitches on her elbow because the blood would not stop flowing. She told the media:
In the race, I went to the medical car because I could see that then it didn’t stop bleeding, and they already helped me at the team car with a towel and a hairband from Anna [van der Breggen]. When I went to the medical doctor, he said you need to come back after the race for stitches. I did and it looks good. I don’t have pain so it’s no problem
Trek-Segafredo made a lucky escape, as their rider Elisa Balsamo escaped the crash unscathed. She only required a bike change and non of their other riders fell victim to the crash. Ina Teutenberg, the team’s head director, compared the race with that of the men, aka Tour de France, saying:
It was a crash, it was a slow day, a long day. Someone touches a wheel and they crash, it’s like the guys, it’s like the Tour de France
Despite being ugly, crashes are a part of cycle racing. No matter how much you try to avoid it, you can fall victim to someone else’s mistake. One can only try to be careful and attentive to avoid any big misfortune.
Also Read: Tour de France Femmes Stage 5: Barbara Malcotti Disqualified
Featured Image Via YouTube/ Eurosport
