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The huge overnight lead of Torstein Træen over the GC contenders at the Tour de France saw him and his Uno-X Mobility team hoping for a multi-day stint in the yellow jersey.
However those plans began to unravel on the Col du Tourmalet when he was dropped 49km from the finish, and completely evaporated on the descent when he suffered a heavy fall.
He clipped the back wheel of a teammate on a tight left-hand bend, hitting the ground hard.
And while he limped in to finish 29:55 back, a day of brutal luck continued.
“We have to see what X-ray shows,” he stated after the finish. “For now, my head is hurting a bit, and then obviously my ribs are not super fine. So yeah, we just have to see.”
Taken to hospital for checks, Træen got some unwelcome news, as confirmed by his squad.
“Torstein passed the roadside concussion assessment after the crash and was able to continue to the finish in Gavarnie-Gèdre. However, following further assessment by the Uno-X Mobility medical staff, analysis of the data from his helmet sensor and X-rays in the medical truck, he has been diagnosed with a concussion and multiple rib fractures,” Uno-X Mobility said in a statement.
“He will now follow the team’s concussion protocol in the coming days and will not continue in the race.”
General manager Thor Hushovd is, needless to say, disappointed to see him leave.
“This is really not the ending we wanted for this yellow adventure.”
Some welcome humor at a tough moment
Træen has been one of the standouts of this year’s Tour, taking yellow on stage 4 after getting into a huge breakaway. His time at the top of the general classification follows an even longer stint at last year’s Vuelta a España, and comes four years after he survived a bout with testicular cancer.
That illness gave him a new perspective on life, and he showed joy despite disappointment Thursday in a post-stage video. It also underlined the close bond between himself and teammates.
Roommate Anders Halland Johannessen has been posting message about Træen this week, including light-hearted efforts to find him a girlfriend, and referenced the latter point again in a post on Thursday.
“Update to the girlfriend hunt. It’s very important that you are not funny at all. Don’t make him laugh. Because Torstein has four fractured ribs and a concussion,” he wrote. “It’s also a plus if u have a car and can pick him up from a airport in the next days.
“It’s been a pleasure to be your roommate and the days in yellow is days I will never forget. Heal up, Champion!”
Hushovd is also sad to see him depart.
“Torstein has given the team a historic moment, and what he and the whole team have achieved these past days is something we will always be proud of. But after the further checks, it was clear that he could not continue,” he said.
“To wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France is massive for any rider and any team. For Torstein to do that, and to take the jersey over the Tourmalet, is something very special.”
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