Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) has been suspended for nine months for bringing down his compatriot Fabio Jakobsen during the sprint of the first stage in Poland.

He was then in a coma for several days and had to undergo head surgery.

Dutch cyclist Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Visma) has been suspended for nine months for causing his compatriot Fabio Jakobsen to crash heavily during the Tour of Poland on August 5, the International Cycling Union (UCI) announced on Wednesday.

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"I'm grateful to be alive"

Suspended "until May 7, 2021" by the UCI, Groenewegen had, during the sprint of the first stage of the Tour of Poland, sent Jakobsen into the barriers and caused a collective fall.

Fabio Jakobsen had been crushed by Dylan Groenewegen in a sprint at full speed, on a downward false flat, and thrown over the barriers.

Plunged for nearly two days in an artificial coma, he had been operated on for five hours on the head, then underwent facial reconstruction in October.

"I'm really grateful to be alive," said the 23-year-old Dutch champion afterwards.

Gronewegen, who had been operated on for a broken collarbone, had apologized on Twitter and on Dutch television, and had been suspended by his Jumbo-Visma team until the UCI disciplinary commission decided his case.

A violation of the rules

During the investigation, the 27-year-old rider "admitted to having deviated from his line and committed a violation of UCI rules", indicates the body, specifying that he would participate during his suspension "in a number of events for the benefit of the cycling community.The UCI emphasizes the importance of acting from a disciplinary point of view on this type of incident, in a fair and consistent manner, as well as of constantly working to improve safety on the route, ”adds the organization based in Aigle, Switzerland.

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The organizer of the Tour of Poland was also singled out for the choice of a slight downhill finish, as well as for the type of barriers used.

The race was the scene of another heavy fall during the third stage, which had earned Frenchman Mickaël Delage a hospital stay.

Jakobsen's fall had come 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.