Rein Taaramae hit by Confidis team car at Vuelta
Estonian rider forced to abandon race but was lucky to walk away with no serious injuries
Rein Taaramae of Team Katusha was involved in a race-ending crash on Stage 7 of the Vuelta España. The Estonian rider had to be abandon the race after being hit from behind by the Cofidis team car.
“I can’t be sure exactly what happened. I was suffering today. I was dropped in the group and was riding alone,” said Taaramae. “In one moment I found myself on the side of the road and I understood that a car hit me from the back.”
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Taaramae is a stage winner at both the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta. He ironically spent seasons with Confidis before moving to Astana in 2015 and then Katusha for 2016.
“I think I’m lucky that nothing is broken. My bike was broken in probably six pieces. When I saw that, I realized I was really lucky. Later that director spoke to me and said it was his fault but was unsure what had happened too. He was very sorry.”
Jonas van Genechten of IAM Cycling took the stage victory as a reduced peloton caught the last two riders in the closing meters of the stage as a late crash took out Alberto Contador amoung others.
“Rein was dropped on the hill and the cars were passing him – he was in the middle of the cars,” explained sports director José Azevedo. “I think he didn’t see the Cofidis car. Sometimes this happens where you look to one side and can’t see anything, but I think the car came and he could not avoid it so he was hit from behind. He flew off the bike to the right side of the road and this was a lucky thing because he was safe, but the car hit his bike and destroyed it completely. It was in a lot of pieces.”
Acevedo saw the crash and made it clear that it was an accident and not the result of recklessness on the part of the driver. “Of course it was not on purpose, it was just something that happens in a race. He only has small injuries, but it was impossible for him to continue, continued Azevedo. “I think he was initially in shock and these last days he’s been having some stomach problems. He was suffering to finish today and then this crash, so it needed to be over for him.”
Taaramae’s bike took the brunt of the collision and the 29-year-old walked away with only minor injuries.
