The British woman who collided with six Giant-Alpecin cyclists in training this winter in Alicante, Spain, has been formally charged by local police. The German team of John Degenkolb and the Guardia Civil police are listed in the case.
The unnamed 73-year-old drove head-on into Degenkolb, winner of last year's Milan-San Remo and Paris-Roubaix, and five of his Giant-Alpecin teammates on January 23 near Alicante, Spain.
The German sprinter suffered a fractured forearm and nearly lost his left index finger. American Chad Haga fractured his eye socket, Max Walscheid his tibia and thumb.
"We all could have died," said Frenchman Warren Barguil, who broke his left scaphoid. Teammates Fredrik Ludvigsson and Ramon Sinkeldam were also involved.
Only Søren Kragh Andersen escaped being hit by the car being driven down the opposite lane towards the cyclists.
Watch: A day in the life of Giant-Alpecin
"The Court of Instruction Number 1 of Dénia has opened an injuries case for the crime of recklessness," read a statement received by Cycling Weekly. "The case centres on the driver of the vehicle as investigated (formerly charged). The court is awaiting forensic reports."
Cycling Weekly understands both the Guardia Civil police and Giant-Alpecin are listed in the case against the woman. Police explained at the time that she lives six months of the year in Spain and six months at home in Great Britain.
She crossed from the opposite side of the CV-720 provincial road leading to Alicante, near Benigembla, and collided with the group of cyclists returning from a training ride. She was driving a British-style car with the steering wheel on the right side, according to someone working on the investigation.
The police released and charged her with imprudence and recklessness, charges formalised today.
Degenkolb is only able to start his season this May 1 in Germany's Rund um den Finanzplatz Eschborn-Frankfurt. Walscheid has yet to announce his return date. Haga, Barguil, Ludvigsson and Sinkeldam have all began racing again.
-
-
Phil Gaimon still battling $150,000 of medical bills two years after crash
The American crashed while trying to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics
By Jonny Long •
-
Tokyo 2020 Olympics cycling medals table: Team GB move up to top the board
Here's all of the medals awarded so far for two wheeled events
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Jai Hindley set to join Bora-Hansgrohe, report suggests
The Australian climber would join a long list of stars to leave DSM
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Lorena Wiebes imperious in Belgium Tour stage one sprint
Second placed Jolien D’hoore takes the overall lead with two Classics-style stages to go
By Owen Rogers •
-
'The war is far from over' at the Giro d'Italia 2021, according to Romain Bardet
The French rider looks to be set for a big push towards the podium spots in the final week of the race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Giro d'Italia 2021: Romain Bardet 'didn't realise' he finished second behind Egan Bernal
The Frenchman put in a strong performance on the final climb and descent of stage 16 to move up in the overall standings
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Marc Hirschi to earn 14 times his Sunweb salary at UAE Team Emirates, according to reports
'Sometimes he had the feeling that he was suffocating' a family member of the Swiss rider said
By Jonny Long •
-
Marc Hirschi says that he can't talk about reasons for leaving Team DSM
Marc Hirschi left Team DSM to join UAE Team Emirates after his contract was terminated due to unknown reasons
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Homework, punishments and limited massages: Did the strict rules at Team DSM contribute to Hirschi's departure?
Claims of a strict regime at Team DSM are said to have contributed to a number of star riders moving on to pastures new
By Jonny Long •
-
Marc Hirschi leaves Team DSM with immediate effect
Marc Hirschi has terminated his contract with Team DSM to join an, as of yet, unknown team
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
