Russian rider Pavel Kochetkov suffered a broken collarbone after a low-flying helicopter blew him off his bike during today’s seventh stage of the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia.
Kochetkov, who rides for Katusha, was caught in the airflow of the helicopter and had to be taken to hospital in Kuantan, where a fracture of the clavicle was confirmed.
Medical staff will now decide if and when the 27-year-old, who had been lying 40th overall, requires surgery.
Stage seven had taken the riders from Kota Tinggi to Pekan, on Malaysia’s east coast.
The Netherlands’ Theo Bos (Belkin) sprinted to victory, while Iran’s Mirsamad Poorseyedigolakhour (Tabriz Petrochemical) retained his overall race lead with three stages remaining.
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