Skip to main content

Leading women’s road race, Dutch rider crashes hard near finish line

While leading the women’s road race competition with under seven miles to go, Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten crashed heading downhill.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

While leading the women’s road race competition with under seven miles to go, Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten crashed heading downhill.

Van Vleuten was leading the 85-mile race at the time. The Dutch Cycling Federation announced she was conscious following the accident and headed to the hospital. Van Vleuten was later diagnosed with a concussion and three spinal fractures, according to Dutch outlet NOS. She is in the hospital in intensive-care.  

Cameras captured the crash, which happened as she went around a curve, careening into the curb headfirst and laying motionless.

van-vleuten-crash.jpg

Van Vleuten tweeted later Sunday that she “will be fine.”

GALLERY: CRASHES, SLIPS AND FALLS AT THE RIO GAMES

Crashes, Slips and Falls at the Rio Olympic Games

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-50.jpg

Russia's Evgeny Tishchenko (top) and Italy's Clemente Russo wrestle as they fall during a quarterfinal boxing match.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-48.jpg

Cameroon's Abdoulkarim Fawziya takes a fall during A women's qualifying volleyball match.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-49.jpg

USA guard Paul George falls into the stands during a game against Australia.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-39.jpg

Japan's Koji Yamamuro falls from the pommel horse during the men's team final.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-40.jpg

Alexander Naddour of the United States falls while competing on the floor during the men's team final.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-38.jpg

Argentina's Manu Ginobili falls to the floor as he chases a loose ball against Nigeria.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-37.jpg

France's Alexandra Lacrabere falls over after being knocked by Russia's Anna Sen.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-36.jpg

Marcio Appel of Brazi slips but avoids falling off of Iberon Jmen while competing in the equestrian eventing cross country phase.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-35.jpg

Yusleidy Mariana Figueroa Roldan of Venezuela falls as she competes in the 58kg weightlifting competition.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-8.jpg

Britain's Claudia Fragapane falls while competing in the qualifying for the women's Beam event.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-7.jpg

Hongxia Li of China falls after diving to shoot at goal during field hockey.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-1.jpg

US gymnast Christopher Brooks falls while competing in the qualifying for the pommel horse.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-6.jpg

Taiwan's Tan Chi-Chung falls as he competes during the men's 56kg weightlifting event.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-4.jpg

Officials react as Italy's Myriam Fatime Sylla crashes into seating after failing to reach a ball during a volleyball match.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-5.jpg

Chunsong Shang of China falls while competing on uneven bars.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-3.jpg

Fabiana of Brazil falls while Jonna Andersson (20) and Kosovare Asllani (9) of Sweden fight for the ball.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-2.jpg

Germany's Mats Grambusch falls during a field hockey game against Canada.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-12.jpg

Lithuania's Jonas Valanciunas (17) and Brazil's Nene Hilario (13) crash to the floor as they scramble for the ball.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-11.jpg

United States center Sylvia Fowles falls over Senegal forward Mame Marie Sy.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-10.jpg

Rene Pranz from Austria falls as his competes with Guilherme Toldo from Brazil in an Individual Foil Fencing match.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-9.jpg

Brazil's Michel Borges falls as he fights Cameroon's Hassan N'Dam.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-14.jpg

Serena Williams off her feet while facing Daria Gavrilovaof Australia.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-15.jpg

Brazil's right back Jose Guilherme de Toledo falls during the a handball match against Poland.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-19.jpg

Poland's Michal Daszek falls during a Group B handball match.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-18.jpg

Mirco Scarantino, of Italy, falls back during an unsuccessful lift in the 56kg weightlifting competition.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-17.jpg

Turkey head coach Ekrem Memnun falls to the ground in reaction to a missed play during a women's basketball game.

Crashes-falls-at-2016-Rio-Olympics-Summer-Games-16.jpg

Argentina's Perrin Ignacio (left) and Thailand's Amnat Ruenroeng fall during a lightweight 60-kg boxing bout.

American Mara Abbott passed her to take the lead after the accident, but finished fourth. Another Dutch rider, Anna van der Breggen, finished first.

© 2024 ABG-SI LLC. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. - All Rights Reserved. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. All betting content is intended for an audience ages 21+. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators’ opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. All picks and predictions are suggestions only. No one should expect to make money from the picks and predictions discussed on this website. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Gambling content intended for 21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.