Edoardo Affini suffered a serious crash during the Italian time trial championship. Italian cycling journalists reported a serious crash on Thursday afternoon after just 6 kilometers. Affini had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.The Italian was announced just this week as one of the eight riders for the Tour de France with Visma | Lease a Bike. “Edoardo is a big guy with plenty of horsepower. He can practically carry a team leader in his back pocket,” said coach Marc Reef.
Incoming Head of Racing Reef has an important role for Affini in the Tour, working alongside team leader Jonas Vingegaard. “Edoardo always makes sure Jonas is exactly where he needs to be. In the heat of the moment, you need guys like him.”
“Also because he commands the respect of so many other riders in the peloton. That’s especially important during the flat stages, partly because he’s the kind of rider who never misses a crucial moment. In the Tour, that’s even more important than in any other race, because it’s so chaotic.”
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Reports suggest Affini give a ‘green code’
Whether Affini will miss the Tour de France due to the crash was and is not yet known. He was conscious after the crash, reported journalist Davide Lessi of RAI Sport. Filippo Ganna, who won the Italian time trial, said afterwards: ‘I feel sorry for Edoardo, I hope he recovers in time.’
An update only came later in the evening, again from journalist Lessi. He stated: ‘Affini has been transferred to the hospital in Mondovì for examination, where the Visma | Lease a Bike rider has been given a green code.’
In an Italian hospital, this code is known as a ‘non-emergency situation or minor procedure’. Reportedly, Affini has not broken anything, but Visma | Lease a Bike will ultimately have to provide the definitive news.