The crash started right at the front of the peloton with Remco and the Lidl rider touching wheels. But the crash was imminent imo, they entered too fast in that tricky corner. #Itzulia2024
"They could have easily put something over that concrete gutter" - Steff Cras criticizes inclusion of descent that led to Itzulia mass crash
CyclingFriday, 26 April 2024 at 23:30
Stage 4 of Itzulia Basque Country this year has marked the season for the worst possible reasons. A mass crash caused serious injuries to several riders including Steff Cras, who openly criticizes the lack of safety measures implemented in the site of the crash.
The Belgian broke several vertebrae, ribs and a punctured lung. But he is back home in Belgium, and “it's also been much better since I got back from Spain. I can do everything myself again and since last week I can cycle on rollers again. Training outside is not yet an option," Cras said in an interview with Sporza. “If I had flown into the concrete block nearby, I might not be here anymore. For the first half minute I couldn't breathe and I felt like I was suffocating. It's over, I thought. But after 30 seconds or so, the lung opened a little and I got just enough air to breathe.”
The terrifying crash saw the TotalEnergies rider as one of worst affected. For three weeks he slept in a special designed chair as he could not do so on a bed due to his injuries. He comments on the right-hand corner where over a dozen riders went down: “I'm thinking of a combination of the bad road surface and the very high speed. In any case, the descent was poorly marked. They could have easily put something over that concrete gutter. Actually, nothing was indicated and nothing was stated in the communiqué the day before."
"In the past, the stages in the Basque Country were super difficult and you therefore automatically entered such a descent with a smaller group. There was less fighting to be in position. Now the run-up is often too easy and you get a sprint to be the first to go down the descent.”
He says that he is also not a fan of the extremely high speed reached in some descents found throughout the year, however he was mostly disappointed because of another big crash. Last year he already suffered several, including the Tour de France where he abandoned.
“It haunts me, yes. I actually had the hope that this year would be the year of the breakthrough. After a good winter, I had set my sights on the Basque Country and certainly the Ardennes classics. Unfortunately, that didn't work out, so I now hope that my breakthrough will come in the Tour," he hopes.
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- What!! 5 million for a martinez and a Remco and Vingegaard as well. Something is seriously wrong. Should be 5 mil in 3 years probably.abstractengineer08-11-2024
- Remco could definitely lose a couple kilograms. That would help him a lot if he can keep his sustained power which is likely at his age. Above all else though, he needs support. He would have definitely been second if he had Jonas' supportVeganpotter08-11-2024
- van der poel is, what, 29? probably gonna be looking pretty good for this list by the time he walks away in 5 or 6 years.OCexile08-11-2024
- Jonas will be strong next year, he came into the Tour so lightweight after his injuries in that crash. I feel like he'll be focused and ready to go. That said Tadej is going to be tough to beat but it can happen. Should be a great Tour.awp08-11-2024
- It's going to be a great fight! I hope JV gets there in shape, Pogi aswell! And, I hope the Giro wont be a goal, but the Vuelta instead. Let Wout do his Giro (or Jorgensen as GC he can still do the Tour after or the Vuelta) Then, JV and Pogi, will have a match in both the Tour and the Vuelta! (Given Pogi goes for the Tour-Vuelta this time)Stitz08-11-2024
- Dumb and dumber...two of the worst cycling commentators to listen too ! Roll sounds like he's going through puberty half the time with his comments.frieders308-11-2024
- Il faut une enquête antidopage complète sur (au moins) PogacarFredoFredo07-11-2024
- Le mec était hyper chargéFredoFredo07-11-2024
- Ca continue avec l'équipe UAEFredoFredo07-11-2024
- C'est Evenepoel qui a gagné cette courseFredoFredo07-11-2024