Reassuring news for Fabio Jakobsen. The Dutch cycling champion came out of his coma on Friday 7 August, two days after the spectacular fall caused by his compatriot Dylan Groenewegen, during the massive sprint at the finish of the first stage of the Tour of Poland.

"We have good news from Sosnowiec hospital. Fabio Jakobsen is now out of a coma. His condition is 'good'", the organizers announced on Twitter.

We have good news from the hospital in Sosnowiec! @FabioJakobsen is awake now from the coma. Condition is "good". 👌 # tdp20 @deceuninck_qst

- Tour of Poland (@Tour_de_Pologne) August 7, 2020

"The patient is conscious, he reacts to solicitations, he breathes on his own, the tension is normal. Today we are very happy," Pawel Gruenpeter, deputy director of the Sosnowiec hospital, told the Polish media. "If he survived such a fall, he will surely return to the sport."

Fabio Jakobsen crashed heavily shortly before the finish line of the first stage of the Tour of Poland on Wednesday. The defending Dutch champion was crushed by compatriot Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) in a sprint at full speed, downhill, and was thrown over the barriers.

The 23-year-old Deceunink runner, placed in an artificial coma, then underwent five-hour head surgery overnight Wednesday through Thursday.

The Jumbo-Visma team apologizes

Dylan Groenewegen, who had surgery for a broken collarbone, apologized on Twitter on Thursday.

“I think it's terrible what happened yesterday. I can't find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and others who have fallen or been affected. At the moment, the health of Fabio is the most important thing. I think about him all the time, "wrote Dylan Groenewegen.

Ik vind het verschrikkelijk wat er gisteren gebeurd is. Ik kan de woorden niet vinden om te beschrijven hoe erg ik het vind voor Fabio en anderen die zijn gevallen of geraakt.

Op dit moment is vooral by gezondheid van Fabio het Allerbelangrijkste. Ik denk aan hem, constant.

- Dylan Groenewegen (@GroenewegenD) August 6, 2020

"Dylan feels very bad because of what happened. He was deeply affected. Soon, we will discuss the incident in detail with him," said Richard Plugge, general manager of Jumbo training. Visma.

A "very dirty action"

This did not prevent Patrick Lefevere, the boss of the Deceuninck team, from announcing a complaint

"It was a very dirty deed by Groenewegen. We don't do that kind of thing. We have already filed a complaint with the UCI and we will do the same with the police in Poland. We will not let that go." , he told the Belga agency. "I've watched this sprint dozens of times. I don't understand Groenewegen's action at all. A runner has to stay on his line."

On Thursday evening, the Katowice (south) public prosecutor's office announced the opening of an investigation into the accident. "So far, three witnesses have been questioned, including a representative of the race organizers. During the proceedings. , other witnesses will be heard, and the collected evidence will be analyzed, "Beata Ksiazek-Nowicka of the Katowice prosecutor's office told PAP.

Katowice police have already collected the crash records, along with the bikes of the injured riders, according to the agency, while investigators are to review race-related documentation and medical documentation.

The Tour of Poland, a dangerous race?

If Groenewegen is generally designated as the first person responsible for the accident - he was also quickly disqualified - the race organizer was also singled out for the choice of a downhill false-flat finish, as well. only for the type of barriers used.

"Every year, the same idiotic downhill sprint at the Tour of Poland", reacted in particular the German Simon Geschke. "Every year I wonder why the organization thinks this is a good idea. Massive sprints are quite dangerous, you don't need a descent at 80 km / h!"

Jakobsen's fall came a year to the day after the death of Belgian hopeful Bjorg Lambrecht (22), who died after falling and hitting a concrete structure on the same Tour of Poland.

During the third stage this Friday August 7, the French cyclist Mickaël Delage was in turn transported to hospital by helicopter after a heavy fall during the third stage. What to continue to fuel the controversy.

With AFP

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