Former champion Vincenzo Nibali is now out of Tour de France after fracturing his back during a crash with a police motorbike during the Thursday’s stage 12 to Alpe d’Huez.
Nibali, the 2014 yellow jersey winner, had to be transported to the nearest hospital after crashing hard on the ground getting a vertebra fracture that needs time to recover making rider lose his hopes for this season’s Tour de France.
Due to a crash, @vincenzonibali is now out of le Tour.
Suite à sa chute, Nibali ne prendra pas le départ de la 13ème étape demain.#TDF2018 pic.twitter.com/BHAmjKBBQq— Le Tour de France (@LeTour) July 19, 2018
Confirming the news
Team doctor, Bahrain, was the one to confirm the injuries Nibali had received saying that he had injured the “tenth vertebra in his back” and that his inability to breathe properly will leave him out of Tour de France.
Right before being taken to the hospital to get the needed treatment, the Italian rider said that the cause of his collision was a police motorbike.
“At that point the road narrowed, there were two police motorbikes closeby. Chris Froome accelerated, I followed him. Suddenly, it slowed down in front of me, and I hit the deck,” he said.
“I was feeling good, I really believed in my chances. It’s a pity. But these kinds of things can happen when there’s a lot of people on the road.”