FILE PHOTO: Cycling – the 101st Giro d’Italia cycling race – The 9.7-km Stage 1 in Jerusalem – May 4, 2018 – BMC rider Alessandro De Marchi of Italy prepares at the start line. REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
BRIOUDE, France – Italian Alessandro De Marchi was taken to hospital after a heavy crash in the opening kilometers of the ninth stage of the Tour de France, his CCC team said on Sunday.
“We can confirm that Alessandro De Marchi was fully conscious after his crash. He has a deep facial laceration and will be taken to hospital for X-rays to determine if he has any fractures,” CCC said in a statement.
De Marchi, 33, crashed after eight kilometers in the 170.5-km ride from St Etienne.
The three-time Vuelta a Espana stage winner was attended to by the race’s medical staff before being taken to a hospital in an ambulance.
Reporting by Julien Pretot; Editing by Christian Radnedge