Bad crash at La Vuelta as riders hit unmarked bollard

Two riders crashed into an unmarked bollard in the final 2km of the Vuelta a Espana yesterday, ending Steven Kruijswijk’s (Lotto JumboNL) race with a broken collarbone.

Organisers have apologised for the incident, which also involved Jan Bakelants (AG2R La Mondiale), and say they are investigating why the solitary black bollard, which was near a pavement, angled towards riders, was not marshalled or marked in any way.

The Professional Riders’ Association has called for immediate action.

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.@s_kruijswijk Uitgeschakeld door gevaarlijk paaltje?? (foto 2 blauw hek, 3 een paal iets daarvoor. #Vuelta pic.twitter.com/UO6PF0sEL3

— René Kruithof (@ReneKruithof) August 24, 2016

Kruijswijk, who reports he is in considerable pain, said: “I crashed heavily into that pole. It’s very difficult for me to leave this race because of an object that shouldn’t have been there. I’m going straight home". 

“This was, after the Giro d'Italia, my second main objective and I hate awful that I have to go home this way.”

Kruijswijk was three minutes and ten seconds from the leader and 31st place when he crashed, but Lotto JumboNL felt he could still even things out.

 “The first summit finish already was a disappointment. It went a little bit better yesterday and we were positive about the possibility that Kruijswijk would have been able to reach his top level during this Vuelta," Lotto JumboNL team leader, Addy Engels, said. “The crash was a huge disappointment.” 

Acá esta nuestro BLOG de la Etapa 5https://t.co/quYAhUzQpJ
"Tras accidentada llegada Atapuma sigue siendo lider" pic.twitter.com/A2MlXbc2ol

— Goga Ruiz-Sandoval (@BiciGoga) August 25, 2016

The crash prompted the Professional Riders Association, CPA, to call for a security plan it proposed earlier this year to be implemented.

The major talking point from stage 5 of the Vuelta. pic.twitter.com/8LHmAPBDzL

— Daniel Friebe (@friebos) August 24, 2016

In a statement, race organisers wrote: “In response to the accident involving riders Steven Kruijswijk (Team Lotto-NLJumbo) and Jan Bakelants (AG2R La Mondiale) during the fifth stage today, the organisation of the 2016 Vuelta a Espana wishes to express its deepest regret for what happened.

“An internal investigation has been opened to determine why there were no warnings or signposts, as originally planned, to alert riders about the obstacle that finally provoked the accident.”

Kruijswijk also crashed in the pink jersey on stage 19 in this year’s Giro, on a descent, flying over his bike and doing a somersault after hitting a wall of snow, losing him the leading position.

Didn't see that one coming... Disappointed to leave the @lavuelta already and a strong team behind me. Good luck boys!!

— Steven Kruijswijk (@s_kruijswijk) August 24, 2016

The fifth stage of La Vuelta was won in a sprint by Ettix-Quickstep’s Gianni Meersman, leaving Trek-Segafredo’s Fabio Felline and FDJ’s RéZA Kévin to second and third, respectively.