Annemiek van Vleuten of Netherlands nearly dies in Women's cycling road race.
Like many people around the world, I was glued to the television watching the world's best athletes compete in the 2016 Summer Olympics. One of my favorite sports to watch was the cycling road race. Not only is the race a testament to endurance and strength but, also the long winding downhill roads are intense and downright terrifying.
Yesterday, leader leader Annemiek van Vleuten of Netherlands was involved in a spectacular crash in the final stages of the women's cycling road race by Copacabana beach.
The road had slippery conditions and she was in the lead and expected to win the race. But van Vleuten lost control around a corner and clipped a curb to send her flying over her handlebar off the road.
Cycling crash. Nasty. pic.twitter.com/GaB5DT1XRh
— Seán Sheehan (@SeanSheehanBA) August 7, 2016
Van Vleuten was unconscious “for a considerable period of time,” Dutch cycling team manager Johan Lammerts told USA TODAY Sports. She later regained consciousness before being taken into an ambulance. According to the Dutch cycling federation, Van Vleuten had a concussion and three spine fractures. She later tweeted that she would be OK, expressing disappointment.
Still in the hospital. Waiting for some research&hope I can leave today. Knowing that this chance is 1 in 4 years, doesn't make it easy.
— Annemiek van Vleuten (@AvVleuten) August 8, 2016
Eventual winner Anna van der Breggen, van Vleuten's teammate, was in tears, being consoled by silver medalist Emma Johansson of Sweden and bronze medalist Elisa Longo Borghini of Italy before she stepped to accept her gold medal.
Via USAToday
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