Egan Bernal: Ineos Grenadiers rider in intensive care after spinal surgery and other operations

Egan Bernal is in intensive care after undergoing two operations following a crash in his native Colombia.

The 25-year-old had spinal surgery and other procedures after he sustained back, leg, knee and chest injuries.

The Ineos Grenadiers rider, who won the 2019 Tour de France, crashed at high speed.

The team said: "Egan remains in a stable condition after two successful surgeries."

The statement added: "Egan suffered a fractured vertebrae, a fractured right femur, a fractured right patella [knee-cap], chest trauma, a punctured lung and several fractured ribs in the crash.

"Doctors were able to medically pin his right leg and stabilise the vertebrae. He is now in intensive care where other potential injuries are being managed, as well as the body's response to the trauma."

A separate statement from the hospital in Bogota said they "will wait for his progress over the next 72 hours".

Last year's Giro d'Italia winner - who recently extended his contract with Ineos Grenadiers to 2026 - was widely expected to contest the Tour de France this year.

It is not yet clear if he will be able to take part in the Tour - which begins in Copenhagen on 1 July - or be ruled out for the whole season.

Bernal won his maiden Tour title two years ago after Chris Froome, the four-time champion and team leader, suffered multiple injuries in a crash during a warm-up race.

Froome, who is still searching for the form he had before his crash - after switching from Ineos to Israel Premier Tech in 2021 - said his "thoughts are with Egan and his family".

The crash comes just weeks after Dutch rider Amy Pieters suffered serious head injuries in an accident in Spain.

Bernal's British Ineos team-mate Tao Geoghegan Hart said Bernal's crash was "a sad reminder of how dangerous training can be".