CYCLING
Egan Bernal says he almost died following horror training crash
Egan Bernal says he almost died as a result of the injuries he suffered following a horror crash in training this week.
The INEOS Grenadiers rider was involved in a crash while training close to his hometown of Bogota in Colombia on Monday.
Bernal, the 2019 Tour de France champion and victor of the 2021 Giro d'Italia, struck a parked bus at high speed while riding his time trial bike.
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Posting on Instagram, Bernal wrote: "Having had a 95 per cent chance of becoming a paraplegic and nearly losing my life doing what I love to do most, today I want to thank God, the Clinica Universidad de La Sabana, all the specialists for doing the impossible, my family, friends and all of you for your wishes.
"I'm still in the ICU waiting for more surgeries but trusting in God everything will be fine."
Bernal underwent two operations following the incident, with the hospital confirming the surgeries were a success.
An INEOS statement later clarified the extent of the Colombian's injuries.
"Egan suffered a fractured vertebrae, a fractured right femur, a fractured right patella, chest trauma, a punctured lung and several fractured ribs in the crash. Doctors were able to medically pin his right leg and stabilise the vertebrae fracture in two separate surgeries," the statement read.
A hospital statement, reported by BBC Sport, read: "Egan Bernal Gomez has continued with the expected recovery and with a favourable trend.
"Egan continues with his rehabilitation plan, he has not shown signs of infection, he is also in good spirits.
"Tomorrow he will have two surgeries, which are secondary procedures that are not life-threatening."
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