Tour de Pologne: Fabio Jakobsen in 'good' condition after being woken from coma

Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen is in a "good" condition after being woken from his medically-induced coma following a crash at the finish line on stage one of the Tour de Pologne, officials said on Friday.

The 23-year-old's team Deceuninck-QuickStep confirmed he had not suffered brain or spinal injuries after he collided at high speed with compatriot Dylan Groenewegen on Wednesday in the final downhill sprint and crashed over the barriers into an official.

Jakobsen was airlifted to hospital and placed in a coma, before he underwent facial surgery and regained consciousness.

A short statement from the official Tour de Pologne Twitter account read: "We have good news from the hospital in Sosnowiec! Fabio Jakobsen is awake now from the coma. Condition is "good"."

Jakobsen's is facing "a long and arduous" recovery according to his team Deceuninck-QuickStep, who confirmed he is able to move his legs and arms.

A statement said: "Two days after being seriously injured in a high-speed crash that took place on the finishing straight of the Tour de Pologne stage 1 in Katowice, Fabio Jakobsen was awakened from coma Friday afternoon by the doctors of the Sosnowiec hospital.

"Fabio, who Thursday night underwent a five-hour maxillofacial surgery, was able to move his legs and arms and communicate with the doctors, which immediately ruled out major neurological problems.

"Due to the surgery, speaking and eating will be a challenge in the coming period as the recovery process is expected to be a long and arduous one."

The incident was caused by Jumbo-Visma sprinter Groenewegen drifting into Jakobsen's path and, after he had been disqualified, the 27-year-old's action was condemned by cycling's governing body.

A UCI statement read: "The Union Cycliste Internationale strongly condemns the dangerous behaviour of rider Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo-Wisma), who sent Fabio Jakobsen (Deceuninck-Quickstep) into the barriers a few metres from the finish, causing a collective crash at the end of the first stage of the Tour of Poland.

"The UCI, which considers the behaviour unacceptable, immediately referred the matter to the disciplinary commission to request the imposition of sanctions commensurate with the seriousness of the facts."

Groenewegen, who rides for the JumboVisma team, apologised for the crash in a team statement.

"I find it terrible what happened," Groenewegen said. "I can't find the words to describe how sorry I am for Fabio and the others involved.

"What matters most now is Fabio's health. I think about him all the time."

JumboVisma director Richard Plugge said Groenewegen, who had surgery on a broken collarbone, "feels terrible" about what happened.

"He was deeply affected by it. Soon we will discuss the incident in detail with him," he said.

The crash took place exactly a year after Belgian cyclist Bjorg Lambrecht died in hospital from injuries he sustained when he crashed into a concrete barrier during the third stage of the 76th edition of the Tour de Pologne.

The 77th Tour de Pologne was meant to be held in July but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The race began on Wednesday, with the 196km first stage taking the riders from the Slaski Stadium in Chorzow, southern Poland to Katowice.

It was reduced to five stages from the seven originally planned in order to leave room on the calendar for other re-scheduled races.

Cycling has to take 'hard look' at itself

The former head of world cycling's governing body says the sport has to take a "hard look" at itself after the horror crash that left Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen fighting for his life.

Brian Cookson, former president of the UCI, said cycling must abolish downhill finishes like the one in the first stage of the Tour of Poland, which resulted in the crash between Jakobsen and Groenewegen.

"Everyone concerned has got to take a hard look at themselves," Cookson told Sky News.

"From the UCI, to the riders, to the race organisers.

"I'm as terrified as anyone else watching that crash, it was really horrendous.

"It was clearly a very dangerous manoeuvre by Groenwegen and then obviously something has gone amiss with the barriers.

"We need to find out what went wrong with the barriers and also not have those downhill finishes anymore - and the riders have to take care of each other a bit more.

"Circumstances change and technology has made bikes a lot faster.

"With carbon wheels, they're travelling five to 10km faster now.

"I don't think you'd find many people saying downhill finishes are a good idea."