Groenewegen facing nine-month ban for Jakobsen crash at Tour de Pologne
UCI yet to confirm punishment, which was reportedly determined by an independent committee
Jumbo-Visma's Dylan Groenewegen will reportedly receive a nine-month ban from cycling for his role in Deceuninck-QuickStep sprinter Fabio Jakobsen's crash on stage 1 of the Tour de Pologne in Katowice.
According to reports from Wielerflits, an "independent arbitration committee" determined the ban, which will be imposed retroactively from August and run through to May 6, 2021. On the day of the crash, the UCI stated that the incident had been referred to the Disciplinary Commission, though the process now looks to have been outsourced.
Back in August, the UCI released a statement condemning Groenewegen, who dangerously deviated from his line during the fast downhill sprint finish, pushing Jakobsen into the barriers with a pileup following as the advertising hoardings flew across the road.
Jakobsen was placed into an induced coma after the life-threatening crash and has undergone multiple surgeries to a plethora of facial injuries which included severe damage to his jaw and teeth. He will undergo further surgery next year and hopes to resume training later this month.
"In a couple of weeks my pelvic crest should be healed and strong like before again," he said in a Twitter post on Monday. "From then I can slowly start training on the bike again!"
Groenewegen, meanwhile, was disqualified from the race and suspended from racing by his team three days later, pending a ruling on a penalty.
If the nine-month ban – an unprecedented ban for a non-doping offence – is confirmed by the UCI, the only recourse he and his team will have will be to launch an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
According to Wielerflits' report, the UCI will announce the ban at the end of this week. Jumbo-Visma did not comment on the matter when contacted by Cyclingnews on Tuesday afternoon.
Cyclingnews is the world's leader in English-language coverage of professional cycling. Started in 1995 by University of Newcastle professor Bill Mitchell, the site was one of the first to provide breaking news and results over the internet in English. The site was purchased by Knapp Communications in 1999, and owner Gerard Knapp built it into the definitive voice of pro cycling. Since then, major publishing house Future PLC has owned the site and expanded it to include top features, news, results, photos and tech reporting. The site continues to be the most comprehensive and authoritative English voice in professional cycling.