Sonny Colbrelli in stable condition in hospital after collapsing at Volta a Catalunya finish

European champion Sonny Colbrelli is in a stable condition in hospital after collapsing shortly after finishing second on the opening stage of Volta a Catalunya.

Bahrain Victorious confirmed their rider is conscious and talking, and was transported to hospital for further tests.

In a medical statement from Volta a Catalunya race organisers released on Monday night it was confirmed Colbrelli suffered what is being described as a cardiac arrest, having lost consciousness and going into convulsions.

Paramedics were quickly on the scene with a defibrillator, and performed CPR to help the rider regain consciousness.

"About 100 metres after crossing the finish line, Colbrelli lost consciousness with seizures and subsequently suffered cardiopulmonary arrest," the statement read. "Paramedics immediately attended to him and were able to reverse the situation with CPR and the use of a defibrillator."

On Tuesday morning, Bahrain Victorious updated the media and fans of their rider's condition, explaining Colbrelli "was conscious and feeling okay. He has since been in touch with family and friends as he recovers at the hospital."

The 31-year-old has shared multiple well-wishes from pro riders on his Instagram story.

@sonnycolbrelli will undergo further tests today to discover the cause of yesterday’s incident. All cardiac tests carried out last night showed no signs of concern or compromised functions.

Further updates will follow.

— Team Bahrain Victorious (@BHRVictorious) March 22, 2022

The Italian sprinted to second on the stage finish in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, won by Michael Matthews, but collapsed a short time later.

Pictures from the scene showed an ambulance, as well as a screen built around the rider to protect his privacy while treatment took place.

However, around an hour after the incident, reports emerged Colbrelli was conscious and talking. It was then quickly confirmed by his team that their rider was stable and being transported to Hospital Universitari de Girona to "investigate his condition further".

Colbrelli was making his return to racing having missed Milan-San Remo with bronchitis.