Estonian rider Rein Taaramäe (Team Katusha) was forced to withdraw from the Vuelta a España yesterday after he was hit by one of the Cofidis team cars. Thankfully though, according to the team he was left with just minor injuries.
“I can’t be sure exactly what happened,” Taaramäe recounted. “I was suffering today. I was dropped in the group and was riding alone. In one moment I found myself on the side of the road and I understood that a car hit me from the back. I think I’m lucky that nothing is broken.”
“My bike was broken in probably six pieces. When I saw that, I realized I was really lucky. Later that director spoke to me and said it was his fault but was unsure what had happened too. He was very sorry.”
Taaramäe has tasted success at the Vuelta before having won a stage in the 2011 race. However, he has been struggling with illness this year, and prior to yesterday’s stage he was sitting in 184th place overall over an hour behind race leader Darwin Atapuma (BMC Racing Team).
“Rein was dropped on the hill and the cars were passing him – he was in the middle of the cars,” explained Directeur Sportif José Azevedo. “I think he didn’t see the Cofidis car. Sometimes this happens where you look to one side and can’t see anything, but I think the car came and he could not avoid it so he was hit from behind.”
“He flew off the bike to the right side of the road and this was a lucky thing because he was safe, but the car hit his bike and destroyed it completely. It was in a lot of pieces. Of course it was not on purpose, it was just something that happens in a race.”
“He only has small injuries, but it was impossible for him to continue. I think he was initially in shock and these last days he’s been having some stomach problems. He was suffering to finish today and then this crash, so it needed to be over for him,” said Azevedo.
Jonathan Rowe
Michael Egerton
Jesus… I saw that his bike was broken but that must have been quite the hit he took.
It’ll polish out.
That should buff out…