National road champion Marek Toivonen was forced to abandon the Tour of the Valley on Wednesday after crashing on the fast descent from Greywater Pass during the race’s fourth stage.
The 27-year-old lost control on a wet left-hand bend about 30 kilometers from the finish, at a moment when the peloton was descending at more than 70 kilometers per hour. He was treated by race doctors at the roadside and taken to hospital in Greywater for further checks.
Team says he is stable
His team said in a short statement that Toivonen was conscious and talking, and that doctors were examining a suspected injury to his collarbone and shoulder. He is expected to stay in hospital overnight.
Marek is in good hands and in good spirits, considering. Right now, the only thing that matters is his recovery.
Jana Kowalczyk, sports director of his team
Two other riders went down in the same incident but were able to continue. The race jury neutralized the descent for several minutes while medical staff attended the scene.
Questions about the descent
The crash has renewed debate about the route. Several riders had complained before the stage that the road surface on the descent was slippery after overnight rain and that some bends lacked protective padding.
We raised it at the riders’ meeting this morning. Nobody wants to race scared, but we need safer roads.
Tobias Linde, rider and member of the riders’ association
Race organizers said the descent had been inspected that morning and that extra padding had been placed on the most dangerous corners. They promised a full review before next year’s edition.
A blow before the worlds
Toivonen won the national title in June and was expected to lead the national team at the world championships later this month. National coach Ivo Berisha said it was too early to talk about selection.
First he gets well. Then we talk about bikes.
Ivo Berisha, national team coach
The stage was won by a breakaway rider who held off the chasing group by eight seconds. The Tour of the Valley continues on Thursday with a flat stage to Cedar Falls.
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