Tom Pidcock Withdraws from Volta a Catalunya After Crash

British cyclist Tom Pidcock withdrew from the Volta a Catalunya on Saturday after sustaining injuries in a severe crash during Friday's fifth stage in Spain.

The 26-year-old rider for the Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Team plunged down a ravine near the end of the stage while descending at around 60 kilometers per hour. Pidcock, a two-time Olympic champion in cross-country mountain biking, misjudged a corner as he took a drink from his bottle, causing him to veer off the road. The incident occurred with about 30 kilometers remaining in the stage from La Pobla de Segur to Boí, and it went unnoticed by other competitors and officials. Stranded far from the roadside, Pidcock used his team radio to call for help, crediting that contact with enabling rescuers to locate him quickly.

Despite the crash's severity, Pidcock remounted his bike and completed the stage, finishing more than 29 minutes behind the winner. Initial medical checks by the team were encouraging, and he expressed optimism afterward. "It was like one of these horror crashes you see, but I am OK. I'll go for a check, but I think I'm OK," he said. Pidcock had been in second place overall, just 13 seconds behind the leader,...