Story By: Alex Cope, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Golder’s News And Sport
This is the shocking cut from neck to chest a teenage cyclist has suffered after colliding with a crash barrier during a race.
The startling incident occurred during the Euskadi Amateur Cycling Championship held in the Basque Country in northern Spain as 18-year-old Andoni Azkarate was descending the Gontzegaraine mountain pass between the town of Markina and Muntilibar.
Local media report the teen cyclist ended up off the road and collided with a crash barrier.
Reports state the cyclist’s jersey became caught on the crash barrier, which stopped him from falling down a ravine but caused the damage to his chest.
The Sporting Director of Azkarate’s Grupo Eulen team David Etxebarria told local newspaper ‘El Periodico’: “Andoni suddenly fell and was stuck to the crash barrier. His chest hit the top of the barrier but luckily the cut was only superficial. His jugular was marked too. A real scare.”
Reports state the 18-year-old lost a lot of blood and was taken to hospital where he was given stitches but he has now reportedly been released.
Etxebarria wrote on social media: It was only a scare, but what a scare. The boy is okay but think about what could have been.”
Etxebarria, 45, is a former professional cyclist who won two stages at the 1999 Tour de France.
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