This is the importance of a bicycle helmet. Chris Harper suffered a very violent fall during the 4th stage of the Tour des Alpes. The Australian rider (Jayco-AlUla) hit a pole with his head, but remained conscious and apparently unhurt.
25 km from the finish of this 4th stage, while chasing Briton Simon Carr, alone in front, the 29-year-old cyclist was surprised by a manhole cover located in a left turn . Going to the ground at full speed, Chris Harper hit his head against a lamp post.
Just after him, his compatriot Ben O’Connor (AG2R La Mondiale) experienced the same mishap, although without hitting any street furniture. The second Australian was able to leave quickly.
Chris Harper remained on the ground longer but was conscious when he fell. He stood up after being reached by emergency services. His team announced his withdrawal and specified that he had been “in contact with the race medical staff”. He was then taken to hospital for scans and x-rays. As announced by his team, examinations showed the absence of fractures. He suffered superficial injuries and a slight concussion. He will now rest, recover and follow the team’s concussion protocol.
