Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead (Boels-Dolmans) was taken to hospital by air ambulance following a crash immediately over the finish line at stage one of the 2015 Aviva Women’s Tour.
Armitstead had just won the 112 km opening stage and was celebrating when she came down, hitting a group of officials and photographers. She had not braked at the time of impact.
After over 30 minutes of treatment on the road, during which 26-year-old Armitstead was placed in a neck brace and apparently sedated, she was taken to Norwich Hospital where her condition was assessed.
Despite initial reports at the scene, it was found she had not suffered any serious injury. However, she will not start Thursday’s stage two, instead choosing to recover and prepare for the nationals, which take place in Lincoln on June 28.
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The crash seems to have occurred when she was blown off course whilst celebrating her win causing her to veer into the finish line photographers. The wind, which had been brisk throughout the stage between Bury St Edmunds and Aldeburgh on the Suffolk coast, seems to have caught her bike, pushing her sharply to her left.
A number of other riders were brought down in the incident, though no other serious injuries have been reported.
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Amitstead had insisted the race was not a priority for her, telling us earlier: "Whenever I put myself under pressure to win something it doesn’t come off".
Despite consistent form throughout 2014, during which Armitstead won the Women’s World Cup, she failed to finish last year’s Women’s Tour, withdrawing after the penultimate stage without a win.
Lizzie Armitstead at the start, Women's Tour 2015, stage one
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
The Commonwealth champion has been in scintillating form this year. She currently leads the overall classification in the Women’s World Cup, having won the Trofeo Binda in March and the most recent round, the Parx Casino Philly Classic in America earlier this month. Including today’s stage, she has won her last three races, taking he total for the year to seven.
Organisers, Sweetspot released a statement: “After crossing the line with her hands in the air, stage winner Lizzie Armitstead appeared to lose control and veer left, clipping photographers positioned across the finish line.
“Lizzie was immediately attended to by race medical staff at the finish line who dealt with the incident before she was taken to hospital.
“Everyone from the Aviva Women’s Tour wishes Lizzie all the best for a speedy recovery and will make no further comment at this stage.”
The race itself was gripping throughout, a group of six riders escaped, including Britons Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi-Sports Tours International) and Elinor Barker (Matrix Fitness). One rider, Heather Fischer (USA) crashed, and Archibald dropped back to the peloton with 15km remaining.
The remaining four were caught only about 100 metres from the line, after which Armitstead crashed.
Tomorrow’s second stage tackles a 138 km route between Braintree and Clacton in Essex.
You can Katie Hall's (UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling) and Dani King's (Wiggle Honda) rides in detail on Strava by clicking here and here.
Start in Bury St Edmunds, Women's Tour 2015, stage one
(Image credit: Andy Jones)
Result
Aviva Women's Tour 2015, stage one: Bury St Edmunds to Aldeburgh, 112.6km
1. Lizzie Armitstead (GBr) Boels Dolmans in 2-39-53
Owen Rogers is an experienced journalist, covering professional cycling and specialising in women's road racing. He has followed races such as the Women's Tour and Giro d'Italia Donne, live-tweeting from Women's WorldTour events as well as providing race reports, interviews, analysis and news stories. He has also worked for race teams, to provide post race reports and communications.
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