Owain Doull's foot and shoes 'cut by disc brakes' in Abu Dhabi Tour crash
"It's gone straight through my shoe into my foot. That's lucky it is not my leg."


A crash at the end of stage one of the Abu Dhabi Tour left Owain Doull (Team Sky) with a cut to his foot and his shoes cleanly sliced through, with Doull saying that these were caused by the disc brakes of Marcel Kittel (Quick-Step Floors) who was involved in the same incident.
Speaking after the stage, Doull said that he was sure that it was Kittel's disc brake rotors that had sliced through his shoe and cut his foot.
"My shoes cut the pieces, that's definitely brakes that did that," Doull said while he had other wounds attended to on his back and backside.
"It's gone straight through my shoe into my foot. That's lucky it is not my leg.
"If that had been my leg it would have cut straight to it."
The riders' union, the Association of Professional Cyclists (CPA), has pushed for covers on the rotors and, in recent weeks, a complete ban.
"Unless there are covers on then you should not use them," Doull added.
Another crash also involved Alberto Contador and Bauke Mollema (both Trek-Segafredo) with around five kilometres out in the 189-kilometre stage. However both were able to make it back into the peloton and finish safely.
Watch: What do the pros really think about disc brakes?
Doull, who is riding his first race back after having his appendix removed, collided with German sprinter Kittel right just before the final kilometre arch.
"My shoe took the brunt of it. My foot is fine," Doull added.
"That is definitely it because nothing else could cut quite like that. It is like a knife."
The CPA wants that the UCI suspend the disc brake trial that re-started this 2017 season until more improvements are made. It said that if the trial restarts, then everyone should be on them, not just a select few, something with which Doull agrees.
"Covers needed? Yes for sure. It wasn't until I got back here [the team car] and it looked at it and we said, it has to be that [a disc].
"I don't think I can make that call [to end the trial] but in my opinion, unless there are covers on them then they are pretty lethal to be honest."
>>> Disc brakes now safe? Pro posts video to try and make you think again
The sport's governing body first started to trial disc brakes at the start of the 2016 season, but this was suspended after Fran Ventoso alleged that an injury that he suffered at Paris-Roubaix was caused by a disc brake rotor.
The incident comes only a few races into the season, with the UCI restarting its trial of disc brakes at the start of the year.
"I'm not too sure how the crash happened, it's always going to be sketchy in a sprint," said Doull.
"I was on Cav's wheel and I think it was a tight squeeze in that roundabout. Space for two or three, and we all ended up on the floor.
"I'm a bit sore, but apart from that, I'll be fine."
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Life Time Grand Prix Round 3: Crusher in the Tushar preview
Life Time Grand Prix Round: Two down, four to go. Watch as 60 handpicked WorldTour roadies, gravel pros, track world champions and MTB Olympians continue the quest for the $250,000 prize purse
By Anne-Marije Rook • Published
-
Jumbo-Visma plan pays off to deliver Wout van Aert 'incredible' Tour de France stage at fourth attempt
After three second places, the Belgian deserved this victory
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar wins UAE Tour with stage seven victory atop Jebel Hafeet
The Slovenian claimed the red jersey with his second stage win of the race.
By Tom Davidson • Published
-
Mathias Vacek wins stage six of UAE Tour as peloton fails to catch breakaway
Gazprom-RusVelo make numbers in break count as sprinters have to settle for minor places
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Jasper Philipsen sprints to victory on stage five of UAE Tour
Belgian rider wins second sprint of the race ahead of Olav Kooij and Sam Bennett
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Filippo Ganna sticks with the climbers in 'ride of the day' performance on UAE Tour summit finish
The Italian time trial specialist showed he is capable of keeping pace on mountain stages too, crossing the line in 11th
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
'Having a team like this gives you goosebumps': Pogačar credits team after UAE Tour triumph
Slovenian takes control of leader's jersey after stage four
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar takes the UAE Tour leader's jersey after stage four victory
The Slovenian leads Filippo Ganna by just two seconds on general classification
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Ineos reveal why Luke Plapp completed UAE Tour time trial on road bike
The young Australian crashed during the recon, causing a mechanical issue to his time trial bike
By Ryan Dabbs • Published
-
Tadej Pogačar 'pretty happy' with fourth place in UAE Tour time trial
The Slovenian sits fifth on general classification after three stages
By Adam Becket • Published