It was initially believed that Joni Kanerva fractured his collarbone and suffered road rash in this awful crash but the reality is worse for the U23 Worlds Finnish rider,
Rider in U23 Bergen Worlds crash suffered litany of injuries
The Finnish rider Joni Kanerva who crashed in an incident with a team car at the Bergen Worlds is more seriously injured than first thought.
It had been reported that Kanerva sustained a fractured collarbone and extensive road rash.
And while that is indeed the case, he sustained a litany of further injuries.
He fractured his C1 vertebrae, his collarbone, four ribs and also sustained serious spleen injuries.
The international rider also had a section of his ear ripped as he flew across the tarmac. And he sustained concussion.
It means he now faces a long period off the bike as he tries to recover from the shocking crash.
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In the U23 road race on Friday a team car swerved into the path of Kanerva.
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The 21-year-old rider was taken out of action by the car. He was on a stretch of course where speeds were regularly about 70km per hour.
The car swerved to the left of a vehicle ahead that was pulling in to service a rider at the side of the road.
And at speed coming down a hill, the driver appears to have instinctively moved to the left to get around the stopped car.
But when he did so, Kanerva was bumped and crashed to the ground at high speed. He slid across the tarmac and hit the crowd control barriers.
Video footage of the incident meant it was a talking point that the UCI had no option but to address.
A communiqué issued by the UCI after the race stated the team car was that of Argentina.
And a fine of 2,000 Swiss Francs has been imposed for the crash. The sanction, by UCI standards, is very steep.
The penalty has been handed down under new rules introduced last year. They came in response to several high profile crashes involving race vehicles and riders.
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