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Vuelta favourite Quintana crashes out of race

Favourite Nairo Quintana was taken to hospital after abandoning the Vuelta a Espana having crashed for the second day in a row, organizers said on Wednesday.

Published: 3 September 2014 15:51 CEST
Vuelta favourite Quintana crashes out of race
Quintana went down in a group crash just 20km (12 miles) into Wednesday's 153.4km 11th stage from Pamplona to San Miguel de Aralar. Photo: Jaime Reina/AFP

The 24-year-old Colombian, winner of the Giro d'Italia earlier in May, had crashed in Tuesday's 10th stage individual time-trial.

That cost him the race lead as he finished more than 4 minutes down on stage winner Tony Martin of Germany to drop to 11th overall.

But he went down again in a group crash just 20km (12 miles) into Wednesday's 153.4km 11th stage from Pamplona to San Miguel de Aralar and decided enough was enough.

SEE ALSO: Spain's top ten bike rides: The Local gallery

"Nairo Quintana felt pain in his right shoulder and was taken to hospital by ambulance to evaluate if there are any fractures," said a Movistar team statement.

Quintana had begun Tuesday's 36.7km race against the clock with a 3sec lead over Alberto Contador and was within touching distance at the first time check following an early climb.

But he crashed on the descent and went on to lose more than 3min 30sec to the Spaniard, who began Wednesday's stage with a 27sec advantage over Alejandro Valverde.

Quintana's abandonment continues a sorry season for the favourites at Grand Tours. Contador and then-reigning champion Chris Froome both crashed out of July's Tour de France.

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CYCLING

Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Swiss rider Gino Maeder has died from the injuries he sustained when he plunged into a ravine during a stage of the Tour of Switzerland, his team Bahrain-Victorious said on Friday.

Published: 16 June 2023 12:54 CEST
Swiss rider dies after fall into ravine on Tour of Switzerland

Maeder, 26, fell during a high-speed descent on the fifth stage between Fiesch and La Punt on Thursday, after an exhausting day marked by three ascents over 2,000 metres altitude.

He had been found “lifeless in the water” of a ravine below the road, “immediately resuscitated then transported to the hospital in Chur by air”, organisers said.

But the next day, “Gino lost his battle to recover from the serious injuries he sustained,” Bahrain-Victorious said in a statement.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we must announce the passing of Gino Mäder,” his team wrote in a statement.

“On Friday June 16th, following a very serious fall during the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse, Gino lost his fight to recover from the serious injuries he had suffered. Our entire team is devastated by this tragic accident, and our thoughts and prayers are with Gino’s family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.”

“Despite the best efforts of the phenomenal staff at Chur hospital, Gino couldn’t make it through this, his final and biggest challenge, and at 11:30am we said goodbye to one of the shining lights of our team,” the team said in a statement.

Maeder had enjoyed a strong start to the season, finishing fifth in the Paris-Nice race.

American rider Magnus Sheffield also fell on the same descent from Albula, during the most difficult stage of the race with multiple climbs. The Ineos-Grenadiers rider was hospitalised with “bruises and concussion,” organisers said.

On Thursday, world champion Remco Evenepoel criticised the decision to compete on such a dangerous road.

“While a summit finish would have been perfectly possible, it wasn’t a good decision to let us finish down this dangerous descent,” the Belgian wrote on Twitter.

“As riders, we should also think about the risks we take going down a mountain.”

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