Team Sunweb cyclist Edo Maas of the Netherlands is in stable condition after suffering neck, back and facial fractures when he hit a car that had wandered onto a fast downhill portion of the Piccolo Lombardia race on Sunday, his team reported.
“Edo is currently sedated, he is stable and his life is not at threat,” the team announced. “He has sustained fractures to his neck, back and face. Further investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of his injuries.”
Maas was descending the Madonna del Ghisallo, a popular cycling path that featured in this year’s Giro d’Italia.
Edouard Bonnefoix, who was riding with Maas on the slope, said the car’s presence surprised the riders as they came out of a bend.
“A car crossed the road from the right,” Bonnefoix said in Twitter comments reported by CyclingNews and Wielerflits. “I don’t know how that was possible, but I think the driver came from his private land and didn’t see us coming.”
The 19-year-old cyclist finished fourth in last year’s Paris-Roubaix Juniors race. The Piccolo Lombardia race also is for young cyclists.
