On a day where big name crashes dominated the action at the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de Hongrie also saw its star riders hit the deck, as Egan Bernal suffered further misfortune after being caught up in a crash during the finale of the opening stage.
As the peloton in Hungary approached the flamme rouge and the sprinters’ teams ramped up their fight for position at the front, crashes erupted farther back in the pack.
Overhead television footage showed numerous riders nestled within the peloton fall, before the crash rippled across the width of the road. On the left-hand side, Bernal was caught up on the edge of a large pile-up, with another rider then unable to avoid riding over him from behind.
The Colombian, who has slowly been trying to make his way back to his previous top form following a horrible training ride crash in early 2022, lay still on the floor as others around him picked themselves up.
Up the road, the final kilometre proceeded and the reduced bunch sprint was won by Dylan Groenewegen, while behind Bernal had now managed to sit up and was being seen to by Ineos Grenadiers sports director Roger Hammond.
Grimacing, Bernal slowly got to his feet, his shorts torn. Standing by the side of the road, he was then handed a bike, which he crouched over as he mentally prepared to re-mount and finish the stage.
As the 26-year-old continued to gather himself, taking deep breaths, cuts to his arm and shoulder were visible to the TV cameras. He then finally got back on his bike and pedalled the final kilometre slowly, accompanied by a team car.
He eventually finished the stage six and a half minutes down, but as the crash occurred within the final 3km, he will not lose any time in the general classification.
Ineos Grenadiers have said a statement on Bernal’s condition will be forthcoming, presumably after he’s been seen by medical staff and the extent of his injuries are clear.
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