16-year-old Visma-linked talent suffers serious spinal cord injuries after crashing into car during training
CyclingSaturday, 08 August 2026 at 15:45
Swiss junior Yanis Berthoud has suffered serious spinal cord injuries after crashing into the rear of a car during a training ride in Switzerland.
The 16-year-old JEGG-SKIL-DJR rider was completing a time-trial exercise when the accident occurred on Tuesday, 4 August. According to Swiss newspaper La Liberté, Berthoud had not seen the car before the collision.
He remained conscious after the impact, but told those around him that he could no longer feel his legs. Berthoud was taken to Lausanne University Hospital, where he underwent two operations before his condition was stabilised sufficiently for a transfer to the Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil.
His life is not reported to be in danger. The extent of any lasting neurological damage, however, cannot yet be established because of swelling around the spinal cord.
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Family facing lengthy wait for answers
Berthoud's father Eric has explained that doctors may need considerably more time before they can establish what the accident will mean for his son in the longer term. "There is edema, which has caused swelling around the spinal cord. It will take several weeks, or perhaps even several months, for that to subside," he told La Liberté.
Only once that swelling has reduced will doctors have a clearer picture of the possible neurological consequences.
Berthoud's fan club initially confirmed the accident and said he had suffered multiple injuries, "particularly to his spinal cord", while asking for patience over further updates on his condition. The move to Nottwil places Berthoud at a specialist centre dedicated to spinal cord medicine and rehabilitation as that assessment continues.
Major Swiss prospect had been making rapid progress
Berthoud is in his first year at U19 level with JEGG-SKIL-DJR, the Dutch junior team closely connected to Team Visma | Lease a Bike. Berthoud himself described the squad ahead of the season as the junior pathway of Visma and a potential route towards the highest level of the sport.
His arrival followed an outstanding 2025 season at U17 level. Berthoud recorded 17 victories during the year, including one of his biggest successes at the European Youth Olympic Festival in North Macedonia.
Representing Switzerland in the individual time trial, he took gold in 12:22, finishing more than five seconds clear of his nearest rival and delivering the Swiss delegation its first gold medal of the Games.
He finished that season by winning the U17 Chrono des Nations by 50 seconds, another result underlining the time-trial ability he was developing before moving into the junior ranks.
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Berthoud had already started testing himself against some of the biggest races on the U19 calendar in 2026, finishing 22nd at Paris-Roubaix Juniors in April.
His progress was not confined to the road. At the Junior European Track Championships in Cottbus in July, Berthoud helped Switzerland take silver in the team pursuit. The Swiss quartet covered the 4,000 metres in just over four minutes and finished only two seconds behind European champions Italy.
Less than a month later, Berthoud is now receiving specialist treatment in Nottwil, with doctors unable at this stage to say what neurological effects will remain once the swelling around his spinal cord has subsided.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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