Niki Terpstra of the Netherlands was cycling with his team-mates to the Laoshan Velodrome Sunday morning for the qualifications for the team pursuit. In front of Terpstra, Robert Slippens suddenly had to dodge a car, and Terpstra ended up going down into the Beijing traffic. He suffered fractures of both lower arms.
The 24 year-old was immediately taken to a local hospital, where the fractures were diagnosed. He also had stitches in an open wound on his chin.
"This is very bitter for Niki. The Olympics are a dream for every athlete," said Milram team manager Gerry van Gerwen. "He has had a very successful season so far and was scheduled to start the Deutschland Tour. Now we have lost him for the rest of the season. We wish him the best and hoped that he recovers from his injuries quickly."
Terpstra had signed a new two-year contract with the team at the end of the Tour de France.
(Additional editorial assistance provided by Susan Westemeyer.)
