Reassuring News for Worlds Riders Affected by Brutal Crash

The two world championship riders who appeared to be most badly hurt in the big crash Saturday have, thankfully, both been cleared of serious injury.

At least 15 riders hit the deck in huge crash approximately 95km into the elite women’s road race championships. Paula Blasi (Spain) was one of the most notable withdrawals, while defending champion Magdeleine Vallieres (Canada) and talented USA rider Kate Courtney also hit the deck and were substantially delayed.

Both would ultimately be DNFs in a race they had hoped to perform very strongly in.

The two most serious fallers were Lauretta Hanson (Australia) and Caroline Andersson (Sweden).

Hanson was taken away with a neck brace on, prompting fears of spine damage, but she later confirmed on social media that things were not quite as serious as they had appeared.

“Thank you to everyone that checked in after my crash today,” she wrote. “I’m okay. Banged up and a few broken ribs, but thankfully it wasn’t worse.”

As for Andersson, the Swedish federation issued an update on its website. It also had less serious news than might have been expected.

“She has a broken collarbone,” said team management official Alexander Wetterall. “It’s an open fracture, so she needs surgery later. Otherwise, it seems to have stopped at a small bleed in the hip, but the doctors keep track of it.

“She is conscious, talks and can communicate, but is tired of pain medications. Otherwise, everything seems fine, considering the circumstances.”

The race took place in Montréal, Canada, putting Andersson a long way from home. Thankfully she is not as isolated as she might have been.

“Her parents are here now, which is great,” Wetterhall said. “She also gets help from her team doctor who she already knows. So at least there’s a good handle on the situation here at the hospital.”

The riders who saw the crash and also those watching the race will all breathe a sigh of relief at the news.