"He went headfirst and lost consciousness": Former World Tour rider Andrey Amador hospitalized in delicate condition after severe training crash
Cycling
Former WorldTour professional and current head coach of the Costa Rican national cycling team, Andrey Amador, is in the hospital following a frightening high-speed crash. The cycling legend was leading a training camp when he suddenly lost control of his bike, suffering head trauma and multiple injuries that required an emergency airlift to the capital city of Costa Rica, San José.
A sudden slip at high speed
The incident occurred early morning on Friday. Amador was riding with the national team at a fast pace of around 50 kilometers per hour when disaster struck. There were no cars or outside obstacles involved. Instead, the crash was caused by a simple loss of control.
Gabriel Rojas, a rider on the national team, witnessed the terrifying moment. "We were training and suddenly, he went headfirst; his hand slipped off the handlebar," Rojas explained to CR Ciclismo. "The weather was very hot and, possibly due to sweat, his hand slipped. He went headfirst and lost consciousness."
The impact was really severe. Amador left the road and hit the deck on the side of the highway. His riders immediately stopped to help their coach while waiting for the Red Cross to arrive.
Rojas detailed the alarming scene while waiting on the side of the road. "When he went headfirst like that, he kind of lost consciousness. At times he seemed to recover and tried to speak, but he could not be understood well."
The coach also suffered several other painful injuries in the fall. "He had a lot of pain in the ribs, he couldn't breathe well, and he also bit his tongue, which happens in such a hard fall," Rojas added. "They immobilized the hand he hit, and he cut a finger quite badly. One never expects a crash, especially not from Andrey who is such a professional."
Andrey Amador retired in 2024 after 16 seasons as a pro
Airlifted for emergency care
Medical teams quickly arrived to stabilize Amador. He was first taken to a local clinic, and then moved to a larger hospital in Quepos. However, the local facilities were not equipped to properly check his head injuries.
"He had a very hard blow to his head, to his finger, and for now they moved us here to the Quepos hospital for the respective check-up," explained Claudio Badilla, a friend who rode in the ambulance with him. "We have to do a CT scan, but unfortunately here in Quepos we do not have a CT scanner, so we have to move to San José."
Because of this, authorities decided to transport him by airplane to the capital city. Doctors at the main hospital are now closely monitoring the cycling legend, and the Costa Rican Cycling Federation is keeping a close eye on his progress.
"He is admitted in a delicate condition; he is stable," stated Donald Corella Elizondo, head of the emergency department at the hospital. "He is currently receiving all the comprehensive care and constant assessments he requires by the multidisciplinary emergency team."
The medical staff confirmed that Amador will need to stay under strict observation. "His condition means that he will probably remain hospitalized for a few days to continue with the intervention plan," the doctor concluded.
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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