Mauricio Soler Update 4

Tragically, things are not looking good for Colombian cyclist Mauricio Soler who was injured in a horrific crash in the Tour de Suisse last month. Early signs when doctors first brought him out of the medically-induced coma were promising, but Associated Press reports suggest he has suffered serious brain injury.

Mauricio Soler update 3

Mauricio Soler, the 28-year-old Columbian professional cyclist who was in second place in the Tour de Suisse until a horrific crash left him with serious brain injuries, is now "out of danger" says English language swissinfo.ch.

Soler, who races for the Movistar team alongside well-known riders such as David Lopez and Jose Joaquin Rojas who finished the race in 44th place overall, sustained multiple skull fractures and haematomas when he hit a raised kerb, causing him to strike a spectator and be thrown against a metal fence. The spectator was uninjured, but Soler was placed in a medically-induced coma due to the severity of his injuries.

Team doctor Alfredo Zuniga says the rider was woken from his coma on Monday but remains in intensive care where tests appear to show no indication of spinal damage. There is also no sign of intracranial pressue, but further tests will be required to establish whether or not he has suffered neurological damage.

Mauricio Soler update 2

Movistar doctor Alfredo Zuniga says that Mauricio Soler's condition is "being favourable" but that the next 48 hours are crucial following the crash on Thursday which has left him in hospital with severe brain injuries.

"The news today is good... the cerebral edema [fluid on the brain], which is the most worrying thing, has gone through a slight improvement and that's why we have to stay optimistic, even though we have to keep reservations because recovery in such processes is unpredictable," he added. The 28-year-old Columbian, one of the best climbers in the world, remains in an induced coma in hospital in St. Gallen, Switzerland.

Leopard-Trek's Wouter Weylandt
died while descending the Passo
del Bocco on the Giro d'Italia.

According to The Independent newspaper, police are not yet able to say if they'll be involved in the inquest to come. However, there have been calls for the professional cycling world to improve rider safety following the death of Wouter Weylandt in a high speed crash during last month's Giro d'Italia; suggesting that should any indication of negligence be found, a criminal investigation will begin. This would be welcomed - although cycling is a very dangerous sport and nobody reaches professional level without being well aware of that, the high speeds attained by today's riders requires the UCI and other organisers to constantly strive towards improving the safety of riders and fans. There is no indication that this has not been the case and a majority would agree that their performance is admirable in this area - as demonstrated by their repeated attempts to make helmets mandatory in racing, despite vociferous opposition from the riders themselves - and prosecution would be highly unlikely, but if it turned up hitherto overlooked areas in which improvements could be made then it would be worthwhile.

Meanwhile, SaxoBank-Sungard's Baden Cooke has described the crash, which he saw taking place. "All of a sudden there was a footpath with a 5cm edge dropping down to the road level, he had no time to brake at all," says the Australian, 32. Soler then struck a spectator before hitting a metal fence. "The fence did not move at all, so Soler took the full impact." The spectator got away with "superficial" injuries.

"The progress of his pneumothorax has been good," explains Zuniga. "He also has multiple injuries and fractures, but the thing the doctors are more focused on now is the edema."

Mauricio Soler update

Mauricio Soler is described as being in a stable but serious condition in hospital today following the horrific crash 11km into yesterday's Tour de Suisse Stage 6, in which he is believed to have lost control after hitting a kerb, coming over the handlebars and hitting street furniture. A spectator, hit by either Soler or his bike, is also believed to have been injured.

Soler, an excellent climber, had been tipped for a successful season in 2011. A series of injuries have prevented the promising talent from achieving his potential so far.

The 28-year-old Columbian, who dedicated his Stage 2 win last Sunday to team mate Xavier Tondo who was killed earlier this year in a tragic accident when he became trapped between his car and automatic garage door, had been tipped for a good result in this year's Tour de France after  series of injuries which have prevented him from taking part in his first full tour since 2007, when he came 11th overall and won the King of the Mountains competition. He was forced to miss last year's event due to a knee injury sustained in the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Soler, a respected mountain stage specialist, was in the running for victory yesterday in a stage featuring the fearsome 1000m ascent of Triesenberg. Doctors say that it is at present impossible to comment on his chances of a full recovery due to the severity of his injuries which include multiple fractures, haematomas and bleeding of the brain. This is the second serious accident in professional cycling so far this year following the horrific crash on the Passo del Bocco in last month's Giro d'Italia which caused the death of promising QuickStep rider Wouter Weylandt, bringing demands for safety regulations to be tightened up in the sport.

Soler's down, says so long

Scratch Mauricio Soler from our Stage 6 predictions - he's abandoned and on his way to hospital in a helicopter following a nasty crash involving spectators. He was in with a good chance today with Triesenberg being the sort of thing at which he excels and must be feeling gutted.


Our condolences, Mozza - get well soon matey, we hope to see you in Vendée next month.


Update: fractured skull. He won't be in the Tour de France.