After a heavy fall which raised fears the worst, the state of health of the champion of the Netherlands, Fabio Jakobsen, remains "serious" but "stable" indicated the doctors of the hospital. The Deceuninck-Quick Step runner underwent five-hour overnight head surgery and is still in intensive care, in an induced coma.

The state of health of the champion of the Netherlands, Fabio Jakobsen, victim of a terrible fall on Wednesday at the finish line in Katowice (south) of the first stage of the Tour of Poland, remains "serious" but is "stable ", indicated Thursday morning the doctors of the hospital where the cyclist is treated. The Deceuninck-Quick Step runner underwent five-hour overnight head surgery and is still in intensive care, in an induced coma.

"A CT scan was done and the brain does not appear to have been damaged ... The main injuries are on the face. Fortunately, the eyes were not affected. His condition is serious but stable," Pawel said. Gruenpeter, deputy director of the Sosnowiec hospital to the Polish media. "Today we will try to get him out of a coma," he added.

A fall shortly before the finish line

Jakobsen, 23, fell heavily shortly before the line of the first stage of the Tour of Poland on Wednesday. The Dutchman was crushed by his compatriot Dylan Groenewegen in a sprint at full speed, on a downward false flat, and was thrown over the barriers. While doctors feared a time for his life, they finally managed to stabilize him late Wednesday evening.

On Thursday morning, race organizer Czeslaw Lang said he was "somewhat relieved" after speaking to medics. "After seeing the accident, we feared the worst, but now we know the situation is serious but stabilized," he added.