#‘Criminal act’ puts cyclist Fabio Jakobsen in coma after terrifying crash

A terrifying crash in the Tour of Poland has left Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen in an induced coma.

The crash occurred as Jakobsen battled for victory with countryman Dylan Groenwegen, who races for Jumbo-Visma, near the finish line. Groenwegen suddenly veered right, sending Jakobsen flying through the roadside barriers and causing and ensuing pile-up.

Jakobsen was awarded the victory after Groenwegen, who crossed the line first,  was disqualified. Jakobsen’s Deceuninck Quick-Step team suggested there was ill-intent.

“I am going to court,” the team’s general manager Patrick Lefevere tweeted. “These kinds of actions must be outside cycling. It is a criminal act, sir.”

Police and prosecutors in Katowice are in fact investigating the crash. Governing body UCI has also condemned Groenwegen’s actions.

“Groenewegen was disqualified from the race by the commissaires’ panel,” UCI said in a statement. “The UCI, which considers the behavior unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the disciplinary commission to request the imposition of sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the facts.”

Jakobsen, 23, underwent a five-hour surgery on his skull and face at St. Barbara’s Specialized Hospital, according to the AP, but had no brain or spinal injuries. Hospital deputy director Pawel Gruenpeter said “there is no direct threat to his life now,” and that they will attempt to bring him out of the induced coma later Thursday.

“I can’t find words to describe how bad I find it for Fabio and others who fell or were hit,” Groenewegen tweeted. “At the moment, Fabio’s health is the most important thing. I’m thinking of him constantly.”

The incident occurred a year to the day after Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht died in the hospital due to injuries caused by a crash into the concrete barriers at the same race. Multiple racers have called on UCI to improve the safety barriers surrounding the cyclists.

“Situations like yesterday must make the UCI reflect on the current conditions of the race, they are no longer the 80′s when the mattress was sufficient for protection,” Italian cyclist Alessandro De Marchi tweeted. “Today the speeds are absurd, we need an evolution in safety measures, and also how certain race actions are judged: we need tolerance zero!”