Promising Spanish cyclist Jaume Guardeno has been hospitalized in an intensive care unit following a severe collision with a car during a training ride on Tuesday.
According to reports from Spanish media, the 23-year-old suffered a significant head injury after striking a rock, which caused him to lose control of his bicycle and crash into a vehicle.
His racing team, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, confirmed on Thursday that Guardeno was immediately airlifted by helicopter to Tauli Hospital in Sabadell. Medical staff placed him in the ICU with "serious injuries," where he remains under close medical evaluation.
"We want to express all our support and strength to Jaume and his family during this time, wishing him a speedy and full recovery," read a statement released by Caja Rural-Seguros RGA.
The devastating accident comes during a peak moment in the young rider's professional career. Guardeno recently secured a 29th-place finish at the Tour of Catalonia and captured international attention last year by finishing 14th overall in the Vuelta a España. Thanks to his standout performances, he was widely considered a strong contender to make his highly anticipated Tour de France debut later this year.