Perez suffers career-ending car accident

Pedro Pablo Perez, five-time winner of the Vuelta a Cuba, was injured severely in a car crash two weeks ago. His goal was to retire after the Olympic Games in Beijing. Perez suffered severe injuries and was in a coma for more than a week.

Details of the crash are unclear. Perez is said to have driven the car near Pinar del Rio, the most-western Cuban province, where he's from.

Perez won his country's national Tour five times. His latest win came last February, adding on to successes in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006.

Perez was the only Cuban male cyclist to qualify for Beijing. His wife Yoanka Gonzales will participate in Beijing in several track events.

Courtesy of Sue Garcia