Former French pro Laurent Jalabert seriously injured after being hit by car
Former Vuelta a España winner hit by a car on his bike and was unconscious when emergency personnel arrived
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MONTAUBAN, France (AFP) — Retired cycling champion Laurent Jalabert suffered serious injuries on Monday when he was struck by a car while on his bike in Montauban, according to emergency services at the scene and a source close to the investigation.
Jalabert, the world time-trial champion in 1997, suffered a fractured left tibia and fibula and an injured shoulder.
The collision happened not far from Jalabert’s home in Lafrançaise.
The 44-year-old was temporarily unconscious when discovered by emergency services and has been taken to a hospital in Montauban.
“His condition is not life-threatening, but he has suffered several fractures and requires surgery,” the hospital said in a statement.
Jalabert retired at the end of the 2002 season after a career that included wins at several classics, including Milan-San Remo, Fleche Wallonne, and the Tour of Lombardy, as well as stage-race wins, such as Paris-Nice, three times, and the 1995 Vuelta a España. He wore yellow, green and polka dots at the Tour de France, winning the points classification and the King of the Mountains twice each, and also winning four stages.
In his post-cycling career, Jalabert continued train and race intensely, primarily dedicated to marathon and triathlon, in addition to his other commitments, including working as a consultant for France 2 and 3 and RTL. Just last week, Jalabert commented on Paris-Nice for French TV, which concluded on Sunday.
In 2009 Jalabert was chosen by the French Cycling Federation to become coach of the French national team at world championships and Olympic Games.