Cyclist Laura üßmilch was injured more severely than initially assumed in her serious fall on the second stage of the Tour de France Femmes. As the 26-year-old track cycling team world champion announced on Instagram on Monday evening, after being transferred from the hospital in Saarbrücken to the Tübingen clinic, she was diagnosed with a third vertebral fracture, a broken rib and a fracture in the back of the head.
“The last few days I’ve been through hell,” wrote üßmilch a week after the fatal fall in France. First, two broken vertebrae were found in the sweet milk from Weingarten. But despite strong painkillers, she continued to complain of severe headaches.
“Now I can say: Thank God that I’m still alive and will be one hundred percent healthy again in a few weeks,” wrote süssemilch, adding: “Currently I can get out of bed and go with someone.” The plan is to leave the hospital in a few days.”
An operation is not necessary and the injuries can be treated conservatively. Sweet milk was involved in a mass crash last Monday around twenty kilometers from the finish of the 136.5-kilometer section from Meaux to Provins and was unable to continue the race. She was treated at the side of the road and then taken to the hospital. The women’s Tour de France delivered frightening pictures of falls, especially in the first few days. 13 of the 144 women who started had to drop out in the first three days.
Time trial Olympic champion Annemiek van Vleuten won the Tour of France. The 39-year-old Dutchwoman won after eight stages in 3:48 minutes ahead of compatriot Demi Vollering.
