Two-time Tour de France winner given oxygen and rushed to hospital after horror crash as race is cancelled

A NUMBER of cyclists were involved in a huge crash on stage 4 of the Itzulia Basque Country.

The incident took place as the cyclists descended at high speed around a tight right hand corner from the summit of the Olaeta climb in northern Spain.

EuroSport

Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard was among those involved in a crash during the Itzulia Basque Country[/caption]

Eurosport

A total of 12 riders came down in the crash[/caption]

One rider appeared to slide out and lose their balance while attempting the bend.

This then sparked a chain reaction where as many as 12 riders, including two-time Tour de France winner Jonas Vingegaard, fell in incident.

Vingegaard was one of the worst affected by the crash.

The 27-year-old Dane was seen being supplied with oxygen by paramedics but remained on the floor for several minutes afterwards.

He was then carried from the race on a stretcher with a neck brace.

A statement from his team, Visma-Lease, said: “Jonas is conscious and will be examined in the hospital now.

“Thank you for your messages. More updates later.”

Remco Evenepoel appeared to land on the grass but was still left holding his collarbone, though he was able to walk to receive medical assistance.

Several others looked to have hit a concrete gutter in their falls.

Primož Roglič, Jay Vine, Sean Quinn, Alexander Cepeda and Natnael Tesfatsion were also among those to receive treatment at the road side.

Statements from the teams for Evenepoel and Vine said they were also taken to hospital via ambulance.

Eurosport reported that six of the riders were taken to hospital following the crash.

The huge crash led to the race being neutralised with 27.9km to go.

Initially only the Untzilla climb was taken out of the route before the race was eventually neutralised to the finish line.

A statement from organisers on social media said: “The race is neutralised until the finish line, the 6 leading runners will compete in the stage but the stage times will not be counted for the general classification.

“The platoon will go in neutral until the finish line.”

However, the president of the Cyclistes Professionnels Associés – the largest international association of professional cyclists – has slammed TV coverage of the crash.

Taking to social media, he said: “Out of respect of riders that have fallen in a crash and their families at home.

“The CPA does not support TV coverage to continue to film them while they are down.

“Riders have reached out to me asking if we can make this a rule and we support that. Please be mindful.”