02.22.2009 3:16 pm
Francesco Mancebo suffers concussion in Stage 7 crash at ToC
Saint Louis Post-Dispatch
Francesco Mancebo of Rock Racing talks with medical personnel after crashing Saturday in the Tour of California. Photo by Vero Image
Rock Racing’s Francesco Mancebo went down hard after hitting a rock on a descent Saturday at the Amgen Tour of California.
Mancebo, who won Stage 1 with a long breakaway. was in the race’s King of the Mountains at the time of crash, which knocked him out of the race and sent him to hospital with a concussion, broken hand and wrist.
“Following his unfortunate crash during today’s stage, Francisco Mancebo is currently receiving medical attention at Huntington Memorial hospital in Pasadena,” team owner Michael Ball said in a statement. “While we are still awaiting confirmation, we believe he has suffered a concussion as well as a broken hand and elbow. The fact he is unable to continue the race does not in any way diminish his accomplishments or those of the team. Attrition took its toll and we lost two incredible riders in Paco today and Victor Hugo Pena after Stage 4, but that’s bike racing. This is such an exciting team and I am incredibly proud of everything we’ve achieved this week.”
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