"He went straight into a lamppost" - 19-year old American rider Ezra Caudell placed in induced coma after crash at Philadelphia Cycling Classic
CyclingThursday, 03 September 2026 at 14:42
The return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic has brought top-level action back into the United States of America, but a dark shadow is currently cast upon the race. 19-year old Ezra Caudell has been placed in an induced coma after suffering a serious crash.
An update was provided following the race by Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, the American ProTeam that has been created this year and has seen Caudell race throughout the season.
“Ezra remains hospitalised and is actively receiving care for multi-system trauma he sustained as a result of his crash at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic,” the team wrote in a press release.
“He has an incredible team working diligently and family at his bedside. We are grateful for the thoughts and ongoing outpouring of support.”
In the aftermath of a recent passing of Finlay Tarling at the Volta a Portugal, the cycling community has been left fearing a new tragedy featuring a rider of the same age.
Ezra Caudell's crash witnessed first-hand
At the time of the crash, the American rider was on the attack and trying to bridge across to the breakaway. Lotto - Intermarché's Milan Menten was riding alongside him, and both riders were victim of a freak crash.
“About halfway through the race, Ezra and I wanted to bridge across to the breakaway," Menten said in an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws.
Milan Menten was racing at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic when he crashed alongside Ezra Caudell
“We got to within ten metres of the final rider when he looked behind to see how big our advantage over the peloton was. Unfortunately, Ezra lost his balance and his front wheel hit either the kerb or a drain. His front wheel broke and he went straight into a lamppost. He took me down with him.”
The freak accident has put an end to a race for both riders, who were taking to a local hospital. But Menten's injuries did not appear to be his main point of focus. “I was in a lot of pain myself, but I could see straight away that it was bad. He just wasn’t moving.”
Milan Menten shares details on Caudell's crash
The Belgian reveals that he has spoken with the team in recent days and has spoken about his current condition:
“It’s not going very well with him. He is stable, but his lungs and bones have been badly affected. What concerns them most is the damage to his brain. Only when they bring him out of the induced coma will they be able to give a real update. I hope for him and his family that everything turns out well.”
Caudell has been placed on a coma following the crash, but his situation has been stabilized. The youngster's injuries are not yet fully known, these will only be known once he is conscious once again.
“It’s the first time I’ve experienced something like this so closely. I’m planning to see a mental coach to talk about it," Menten admits.
"Physically I’m doing pretty well. i have whiplash and a ligament has been affected, but apart from that I’ve been very lucky. Especially when I see the state Ezra is in.”
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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