World champion Chloe Dygert has crashed out of the UCI road world championships during the individual time trial on Friday, while Dutchwoman Anna van der Breggen won the race and will collect the rainbow jersey.
Dygert, 23, from the U.S., took a sweeping corner wide and unstable on her bike, crashed into and toppled over a road-side barrier, falling down the grass bank on the other side during the 31.7km circuit at Imola, Italy.
Her Team USA car immediately came to her rescue, and the six-time Olympic medallist was taken away on a stretcher in an ambulance. She is reported to be conscious and talking.
Dygert was on target to win her second time trial world championship.
World road race champion, Anna van der Breggen won the individual time trial in 40 minutes 20 seconds, 15 seconds ahead of Marlen Reusser of Switzerland, and 31 seconds ahead of Ellen Van Dikj from the Netherlands.
The UCI World Championships continue tomorrow with the elite men’s individual time trial at Imola’s motor racing circuit after being moved from Switzerland due to COVID-19.