Lloyd safe after Besseges crash, likely out of race

Daniel Lloyd (Cervélo TestTeam) is safe following a crash in the final kilometre of the opening stage in the Etoile de Bessèges today in Le Grau du Roi, France. X-rays ruled out fractures, but rest is needed before England's Lloyd can continue training and racing.

"I am just really badly bruised and painful, from the top of my spine, down the first couple of vertebrae," said Lloyd. "I hit the tree pretty hard with my head. My helmet is ready for the bin, split in half.

"I don't think I will be racing tomorrow unless I make a big improvement overnight."

Lloyd was helping position the team's sprinters Brett Lancaster and Dominique Rollin at the front when the crash occurred. He was moving up the left-hand side, when two tangled riders swerved in front of him and left him with no choice but to ride off the road.

"I knew I was coming down and so I veered off in the grass to soften the landing. I somehow hit the grass head first and then slid on my stomach, towards of a tree."

The team's director Alex Sansvega and the team doctor accompanied Lloyd during his three hours at the hospital. They will likely see him off to the airport tomorrow and home to Bournemouth to rest ahead of the Tour of Oman.

The Tour of Oman was in fact supposed to be Lloyd's first race of the season before the team called him to France because they needed replacements for Thor Hushovd and Iñigo Cuesta. He believes that with two days of rest he should be back on track for the Tour of Oman and his early season's goals: the Classics, staring with Milano-Sanremo, Mach 20.

Related links

Lloyd in hospital for check following Besseges crash

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Daniel Lloyd: Rider Profile