Four-time national road race champion Matt Brammeier has suffered horrific injuries at the Tour of Utah in America. The MTN-Quebeka rider was in collision with a car and suffered a broken pelvis, broken ribs and a fractured sacrum.
By Brian Canty
Matt Brammeier has suffered a big career setback after being involved in a bad crash during the Tour of Utah.
The MTN-Quebeka rider was coming down a descent during the sixth stage of the race from Salt Lake City to Snowbird when he collided with a car.
His injuries include a broken pelvis, broken ribs on both sides, and a fractured sacrum – the latter a small bone at the base of one’s spine.
His fiancée, British professional Nikki Harris posted a message on her Facebook saying she was “thankful he is still alive”.
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A statement on the MTN-Quebeka website explained what happened:
“Matt Brammeier was involved in a high-speed crash on stage 6 of the Tour of Utah,” it confirmed.
“The Irishman collided with a service car on the descent from Guardsman Pass in Big Cottonwood Canyon. He was chasing back to the main peloton by the time.”
Winning stage 4 of the ZLM Toer in Holland in June, the biggest win of his career.
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The team’s doctor added: “Matt has suffered no head, neck or spinal injuries and is currently stable in hospital.
“His musculoskeletal injuries are significant however. He suffered rib fractures on both sides as well as a small pneumothorax.
“He also has fractures of the sacral and pelvic bones. Matt is unlikely to require surgery but will need some time to recover from his injuries.”
The crash is a major blow to Brammeier and comes at a particularly bad time of the season for him.
He had been going well in America in service of his teammates and had been looking forward to getting a start in both the Vuelta a Espana and UCI World Road Race Championships in America next month.
In June he rocketed to the best victory of his career at the ZLM Toer in Holland when he attacked off the front to win stage 4 solo ahead of a world class field.
It’s not the first time Brammeier has returned from serious injury, having been hit by a lorry and suffered two broken legs in 2007 before he turned pro.
Brammeier Tweeted a photo of himself in hospital with the message: “All good in the hood guys. Thanks for all the messages.”
All of us here at stickybottle wish Matt well for his recovery and hopefully he will be back in the saddle as soon as possible with the great form he has shown this season.
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