German cyclist Jens Voigt is waiting to hear the full extent of his injuries following a horrific crash during stage 16 of this year's Tour de France.
The 37-year-old momentarily lost consciousness after a heavy fall early on the descent from the Col du Petit-Saint-Bernard. He was immediately taken to a hospital after being revived at the scene.
“I only saw him after the crash and he looked very, very bad,” said team boss Bjarne Riis, a former Tour de France winner.
“It’s not nice to lose a rider like this, but these are things which happen in a race and you have to accept them.
“It is too early to say how bad his injuries are, I didn’t see the crash, I only saw the aftermath and it wasn’t good.
“I am just concerned with Jens’ health right now.”
Official race doctor Gerard Porte said: “He lost consciousness for three to four minutes. He has injuries mainly to his face and when he gets to hospital in Grenoble he will be having a full scan.
"I am just concerned with Jens' health right now."
Voigt - a team-mate of Andy Schleck - has had poor luck on the Tour recently after a flat tyre cost him the chance to stay with a breakaway group during stage 14.
The 37-year-old suffered a back-wheel puncture at the 57km mark and despite receiving a new wheel from the neutral spares car, he lost his place in a 13-man escape which included eventual stage winner Sergei Ivanov of Katusha.
Voigt is the second rider Saxo Bank have lost inside a week.
Their 34-year-old Norwegian champion Kurt-Asle Arvesen crashed out in the 10th stage trying to avoid a spectator.
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