Annemiek van Vleuten Injury: Updates on Cyclist's Concussion, Spine and Recovery | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Annemiek van Vleuten suffered three fractures in her spine and a severe concussion following her crash during the women's Olympic cycling road race in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, per Orla Chennaoui of Sky Sports.

Continue for updates.

Van Vleuten Comments on Status

Sunday, Aug. 7

Annemiek van Vleuten @AvVleuten

I am now in the hospital with some injuries and fractures, but will be fine. Most of all super disappointed after best race of my career.

Latest on Van Vleuten's Hospitalization 

Sunday, Aug. 7

According to Dutch cycling officials, Van Vleuten will spend the next 24 hours in intensive care after being taken to the hospital directly from the race, per European journalist Jacquelin Magnay.

Van Vleuten Injured on Sharp Decline

Sunday, Aug. 7

The Dutch cyclist, a member of professional team Orica-AIS, held a marginal lead heading into the final 12 kilometers of the race before the terrifying accident. 

While struggling to turn on a sharp right-hand bend, Van Vleuten flipped over her handlebars and landed on top of her head, rendering her motionless.

Van Vleuten the Latest to Suffer Injury on Course

The 33-year-old rider was fortunate to escape without further injuries after tumbling from her seat on the sharp Vista Chinesa descent.

The crash marred an otherwise successful day for the Netherlands, as teammate Anna van der Breggen went on to claim the gold medal after finishing in a time of 3:51:27.

Per BBC Sport, former Olympic individual pursuit champion Chris Boardman was frustrated by the lack of safety precautions on the course:

I am past commenting - I am angry about it. 

I went down and had a look at the course and saw those edges. We knew it was way past being technical; it was dangerous. The people who designed the course and said what safety features were needed had seen it as well and left it.

We knew the descent was treacherous. I looked at that road furniture and thought, nobody can crash here and just get up. It is really bad and that is what we have seen today.

Several men, including Geraint Thomas of Great Britain, fell during their race on Saturday, with the steep descent and sharp bends catching some riders off-guard.