Kevin de Weert (Omega Pharma - Quick Step)(Image credit: Bettini Photo)
Kevin De Weert from OmegaPharma-Quick Step trying to escape.(Image credit: velopalmares.free.fr)
Wednesday's time trial in the Vuelta a España ended disastrously for Kevin de Weert. The Omega Pharma-QuickStep rider was transported directly to hospital after a crash left him with multiple serious injuries.
The 31-year-old suffered a fractured left tibia, a ruptured patellar tendon in the left knee, and a fractured right collarbone. Most seriously, he “was also diagnosed with a cervical fracture, without displacement and without neurological consequences.” He never lost consciousness, the team said.
De Weert was on a downhill section when the wind caught his front wheel. Teammate Tony Martin, who finished second on the stage, said that “If I had won today, I would have dedicated the win to my teammate Kevin de Weert.”
Martin added, “When you hear something like that, everything else loses importance. I didn't think of the second place anymore. In such moments, you know once again what is really important in life.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
