Tom Pidcock, a British cyclist and two-time Olympic champion, has withdrawn from the Volta a Catalunya race after sustaining injuries from a crash in which he fell into a ravine.
The incident occurred while he was competing in the race on Friday.
According to Lorenz Emmert, the chief medical doctor of the Pinarello-Q36.5 team, Pidcock likely suffered bone and ligament damage to his right knee and wrist. A thorough medical evaluation will take place in the coming days to assess the extent of his injuries.
Details of the Incident
Pidcock’s crash happened late in the stage on Friday when he misjudged a corner while attempting to take a drink. Despite the severity of the fall, he managed to finish the stage, and initial assessments indicated that his injuries were not as severe as they could have been.
Pidcock’s Response
Following the crash, Pidcock expressed his relief, stating, “It was like one of these horror crashes you see, but I am OK. I’ll go for a check, but I think I’m OK.” He initially intended to compete in Saturday’s stage but ultimately decided against it after consulting with medical staff.
“We did everything to try to make it to the start but it’s not possible,” Pidcock remarked. “I fought to finish the stage yesterday to make sure I had the option to continue. Now the focus is on recovery, and I’ll be back,” he added.
Current Standings in the Race
As the race progresses, Jonas Vingegaard is currently leading the general classification standings after five stages in this year’s edition of the seven-stage event.