Bahrain Victorious has said Sonny Colbrelli has been in touch with his family after collapsing at the end of yesterday’s opening stage at Volta a Catalunya but the team says tests have shown there is nothing wrong with his heart.
The Italian rider, and European road race champion, was revived by paramedics in the finish area just after finishing 2nd on the stage to Michael Matthews (BikeExchange-Jayco).
Colbrelli,
who was returning to racing after a recent bout of bronchitis, lost
consciousness and was revived by the paramedics, with reports from the scene
saying he was given CPR.
After about 45 minutes of being attended to at the scene he was taken by ambulance to hospital and was conscious when he left the race. His team has on Tuesday morning published a brief update on his condition, which says checks on his heart have identified no issue.
However, the team also says the Italian rider must undergo further medical tests in a bid to establish why he collapsed.
“After
being admitted to Hospital Universitari de Girona Doctor Josep Trueta, Sonny
Colbrelli was conscious and feeling okay,” the team said. “He has since been in
touch with family and friends as he recovers at the hospital.
“Sonny will undergo further tests today to discover the cause of yesterday’s incident. All cardiac tests carried out last night showed no signs of concern or compromised functions. Further updates will follow.”
Colbrelli has spoken to the Italian media and said while the incident was scary he is already thinking about when he might be able to return to racing.
“I’m here in the hospital, resting, I
don’t remember anything,” Colbrelli told The Gazzetta dello Sport. “Only that I crossed the line, I
stopped, I took the water and I collapsed. Then the emptiness, and I woke up in
the hospital.”
“Now I’m here, they keep me monitored/ It was a great scare, but I am already thinking about when I will be able to return to the group. “
