Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Become a Member

Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more.

Already have an account? Sign In

Brands

Road

Stetina seriously injured in crash at Pais Vasco

American Peter Stetina breaks right tibia, patella, and four ribs in the finish of Vuelta al Pais Vasco in Spain

Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Download the app.

BILBAO, Spain — BMC’s Peter Stetina broke his right tibia, patella, and four ribs in a crash near the finish line of Monday’s opening stage of Vuelta al Pais Vasco.

His teammate, Darwin Atapuma, was also among the half-dozen or so riders who were involved in the pile-up about 400 meters from the finish line of the 162.7km race. The crash happened when the middle part of a reduced peloton was passing three-foot-high metal poles topped with orange traffic cones near the curb lane of the finishing straight.

“Some guys barely missed the poles and some clipped them,” Stetina said. “I didn’t even have time to react or pull the brakes. You don’t expect to have fixed obstacles in the middle of a field sprint.”

BMC’s chief medical officer Dr. Max Testa said the normal recovery time from an injury of this type is several months.

“The Amgen Tour of California was my big goal and my GC [general classification] race this year,” Stetina said. “Now it is almost for sure out the window.”

Atapuma was able to get up and ride to the finish after suffering a cut on his left knee. A decision on whether he will be able to take the start for stage 2 will not be made until Tuesday morning, Dr. Testa said.

An American in France

What’s it like to be an American cyclist living in France? Watch to get professional road cyclist Joe Dombrowski’s view.

Keywords: