Hit by a car this past week, Thibault Guernalec became the second professional rider in a few days to suffer a collision with a vehicle. Only days earlier, Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) was struck from behind by a driver who failed to stop.
While wiebes did not suffer any injuries, the same could not be said for the French rider.
His Arkéa‑B&B Hotels team shared on social media that the 28-year-old rider suffered “multiple fractures (lumbar vertebra, finger), as well as a concussion.”
Guernalec simply doesn’t remember this crash, as he shared his harrowing story with Le Télégramme. He recalled being on a training ride, approaching a roundabout, when he was hit. “I woke up on the ground, with people around me,” he said. “I didn’t understand what was happening. I didn’t feel the impact.”
He described a period of confusion and pain, and the realization that he was seriously injured. “I’m still in a bad state,” Guernalec stated. “I have a lot of pain, especially in my back.I don’t know when I’ll be able to race again.”
The driver, according to reports, tested positive for alcohol. Guernalec expressed his shock and anger at the incident. “It’s incredible,” he said. “People need to be more careful. They need to respect cyclists.”
This incident adds to a growing concern about cyclist safety on the roads, with calls for increased awareness and stricter penalties for drivers who endanger cyclists.
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