A CYCLIST WHO suffered a concussion in a heavy crash during the Tour of California yesterday, will miss the remainder of the competition.
Toms Skujins from Latvia, broke his collarbone and suffered road rash as a result of the fall but somehow managed to resume the stage. His team later pulled him out of the race and brought him to hospital.
Footage shows Skujins seconds after the accident, in which he appears to look disorientated while trying to remount his bike. While struggling to get back to his feet, he narrowly avoids getting struck by oncoming riders.
After being assisted back onto the saddle he looks to be pedaling towards a curb, before making a sharp turn back towards the middle of the road at the last second to avoid a second fall.
Skujins, a two-time Amgen Tour of California stage winner, has now commenced ‘internal concussion protocol,’ according to his team Cannondale-Drapac, and will take no further part in the Tour of California.
Team Cannondale-Drapac Sport director Tom Southam said: “Toms’ crash obviously had a huge impact on us today. It was a high-speed crash and unfortunately it happened at a time when the race was fragmented, which delays information and makes these situations extremely hard.
“Toms instinctively continued riding but it was clear that he couldn’t go on. It’s a blow for the team and for his own ambitions but that was a serious fall, and racing can take a back seat while he heals.
Skujins later took to social media to assure his followers that he is feeling alright after the accident, despite looking heavily bruised.
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