Egan Bernal, winner of the 2021 Giro d'Italia and 2019 Tour de France, was injured in a collision with a public transport bus while training on Monday.
The 25-year-old reportedly collided with the parked bus in Gachancipá, Cundinamarca, suffering multiple injuries that will require surgery (updated).
A photo shared on social media showed the Ineos Grenadiers rider on his back on the ground behind a bus that was halfway in the travel lane. The bus was pictured with a heavily-dented rear bumper and panel.
Bernal was taken by ambulance to the Clinica Universidad de La Sabana hospital outside Bogota.
"The Ineos Grenadiers can confirm Egan Bernal has been taken to hospital following a training accident in Colombia this morning," read a statement from the team sent to Cyclingnews.
"Bernal, who is at a team training camp near his hometown with several teammates, was accompanied to hospital by team medical staff and was conscious upon arrival. He is stable and undergoing further assessment. The team will provide an update on Egan's condition in due course."
According to the transport police, Bernal did not spot the bus, which was apparently stopped on the right-hand side of the road.
"Today, Ineos were training with our athlete Egan Bernal, and they came across a bus parked on the verge on the right-hand side. Unfortunately, our cyclist did not see it and collided with it," said colonel Juan Carlos Castro, from the department for transit and transport.
"At this moment we’re waiting for clinical results from the medical examinations."
Bernal was training in Colombia with a number of teammates, including Richard Carapaz, Daniel Martinez, Omar Fraile, Andrey Amador, Carlos Rodriguez, and Brandon Rivera.
Less than one week ago, a video taken by a support guide captured an oncoming vehicle narrowly missing the group in the same region north of Bogota.
Bernal was scheduled to start his season at the Tour de la Provence on February 10.
