Italian rider Pozzovivo out of Vuelta with multiple fractures after collision with Car 

Italian rider Domenico Pozzovivo has been seriously injured after being knocked down by a car

Pozzovivo was involved in the collision while training near Cosenza in southern Italy.

The 36-year-old was riding through the hamlet of Laurignano when he was hit by a Fiat Grande Punto at a crossroads. After being stabilised on the scene by paramedics, Pozzovivo was taken to a hospital in Cosenza and remains in intensive care.

Pozzovivo remained conscious throughout, and is in a stable condition in intensive care awaiting surgery to multiple bone fractures, according to a statement released by his Bahrain-Merida team.

"Although stable and conscious, Pozzovivo has suffered multiple bone fractures requiring surgery," the team said, "Pozzovivo suffered fractured arm and leg after being hit by a car" 

A climbing specialist Pozzovivo helped teammate Vincenzo Nibali to a second-place finish in this year's Giro Italia.

He had been training for the Vuelta a Espana which starts on August 24, but will now likely miss the race with reports suggesting he has suffered further fractures including six broken ribs as well as chest injuries.