Jan Bakelants and Simone Petilli are in hospital after crashing on dangerous Il Lombardia descent

ByTom Adams

Updated 08/10/2017 at 08:20 GMT

AG2R La Mondiale rider Jan Bakelants suffered seven broken ribs and two fractures to his spine in a nasty fall during Saturday's Tour of Lombardy, while UEA Team Emirates cyclist Simone Petilli has been diagnosed with two back fractures, a broken collarbone and a broken shoulder blade after his own crash at the same corner.

31-year-old Bakelants was on the descent of Sormano during Saturday’s monument when he crashed.

The team confirmed the incident occurred at exactly the same place where Laurens De Plus, of Quick-Step Floors, was seen on TV footage smashing into a barrier and falling into a ravine.

Il Lombardia

Horror moment as De Plus crashes over barrier with 30ft drop below

00:00:31

|

07/10/2017 at 19:44

Horror moment as De Plus crashes over barrier with 30ft drop below

De Plus' fall was said to have been partially broken by a tree and his team later confirmed he had escaped without serious injury.

But Bakelants' fall was more severe, with his team confirming that he "fell into the ravine below".

A doctor at Como Hospital subsequently revealed his condition via a statement on the AG2R website:

"Jan Bakelants is in stable condition. He is conscious and has no difficulty breathing or moving. After an x-ray and CT scan, the following injuries have been detected:

"Seven rib fractures, though without any impact on the lungs.

"A fracture-compaction of the first lumbar vertebra and the third lumbar vertebra, the latter of which will require additional examination. An MRI will be carried out tomorrow."

Simone Petilli and Daniel Martinez both also crashed on the same corner, with Martinez of the Wilier Pro Cycling team picking up just minor injuries.

Unfortunately Petilli suffered a host of more serious injuries in his fall, with UAE Team Emirates saying in a statement:

Simone Petilli was transferred to the hospital Circolo in Varese, where he was joined by Dr Corsetti, team’s doctor: he suffered a concussion, the fracture of the right occipital condyle, the fracture of the right tranverse process of the D1 vertebra, the broken right collarbone and the broken right shoulder blade, in addition to wounds near the right eye.

The descent was described by Quick-Step Floors cyclist Dan Martin as "one of the most dangerous downhills of any WorldTour racing event".

Il Lombardia

Nibali storms to Il Lombardia victory

07/10/2017 at 18:44

Il Lombardia

Blazin' Saddles: Who will win the season's final Monument of Il Lombardia?

03/09/2018 at 11:11