An elite cyclist suffered a suspected broken back after crashing into roadside barriers that were apparently blown out of place by a low-flying helicopter

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An elite cyclist suffered a suspected broken back on Tuesday after a crash that his team boss said was caused by a low-flying helicopter.

Vini Zabu-KTM teammates Luca Wackermann and Etienne van Empel collided with roadside barriers near the end of stage four of the Giro d’Italia, one of cycling’s three Grand Tours.

According to the riders’ team boss Andrea Citracca, the crash occurred when the downdraft of a helicopter flying over the race blew the barriers into the path of the two cyclists.

Dutchman Van Empel escaped mostly unscathed, however Italian Wackermann was forced to abandon the race after suffering a broken nose, multiple cuts and bruises, and a suspected fracture to his back.

The 28-year-old remains in hospital where he is to undergo further scans to determine the extent of his injuries, his team said.

#Giro Ferito, ammaccato, incerottato, ma è un sorriso bellissimo

Hurted, bruised, taped, but this is a beautiful smile#ForZabù #ForzaLuca pic.twitter.com/LP2SxVd3nR

— Vini Zabú — Brado — KTM (@ZabuBradoKTM) October 6, 2020

«Wackermann was sent to the hospital, he was barely conscious,» Vini Zabu-KTM boss Andrea Citracca told Italian TV station RAI2.  

«The helicopter was flying too low, the movement of the air blew up the barriers. It is not clear if he has broken his pelvis. The barriers were not tied properly.»

Van Empel tweeted: «I am okay. Only some small cuts on my fingers. Not really sure what happened but out of nowhere the barriers flew into our group.

«For now my thought are with my teammate Luca and hope some good news will arrive soon.»

Another rider, Brent Bookwalter said after the stage, according to Cycling Weekly: «Did anyone catch the crash that happened in our grupetto with 800 metres to go when the helicopter sent the unsecured barriers flying into riders just inches away from me?» 

The BBC, however, suggested that the displaced barriers were not moved by a helicopter, but rather by an «external factor.»

«The barriers were well tied together and in that moment the TV helicopter was flying over the finish,» an unnamed source said, adding that «an external factor could have moved» the barriers into the road.

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Source: insider.com