Betancur out of the Vuelta after Horrendous Crash

Carlos Betancur (Movistar) limped on to the finish but is now out of the race after being brought down when Tejay van Garderen crashed directly in front of him

The Colombian rider suffered facial injuries, crossing the line bloodied and with bandages over his mouth.

However another injury has put him out of the event. “A fracture to external malleolus in right ankle forces Colombian from Movistar Team to end his participation in the Spanish race,” said his team in a press statement. “He crashed just after showing impressive form against GC contenders on day six.”

He had been sitting 16th overall and put in his best performance thus far in the race, up until the point where he crashed. He was part of the seven-man GC group which remained together after a series of blistering attacks by Alberto Contador.

“In a show of pure courage, Betancur managed to complete the stage,” said the team, “crossing the line 12 minutes after the winner, before being transferred to the University Hospital of Sagunto. The Colombian underwent there a CT scan and radiological checks to his pelvis, which ruled out any damage to his head and hip."

“However, X-ray tests on his right ankle revealed a fracture to the external malleolus, which required a plaster cast that will prevent Betancur from continuing in the 2017 Vuelta. The Movistar Team has later been moved to the La Fe hospital in Valencia, in order to have surgery to his face to heal the wounds produced by the crash.”

He had been the team’s main GC hope after Dani Moreno’s crash on stage four.