June 02, 2014 (Philadelphia, PA) – Canada’s Karol-Ann Canuel (Specialized-lululemon) crashed badly at the Philadelphia Cycling Classic women’s race on Sunday, fracturing her spine and one rib reports the Abitibi Express.  Luckily, her spinal cord was not injured in the C6 vertebral fracture. The 26-year-old from Amos, Quebec, apparently also lost consciousness and received 12 stitches on her chin.

The crash involved another unidentified rider at about the 20km mark in Sunday’s 96.5km crit and Canuel was taken to the emergency department of a local hospital. Family members tell The Express that Canuel is alright, but shaken up. It is unclear how long she’ll be out of action but her presence at the Canadian Road Championships (June 26-29) is now questionable.  Canuel finished fourth at the road nationals in 2013 and went on to finish 33rd at the UCI Road Worlds RR in Florence, Italy.

Read more in the Abitibi Express (French):

<http://www.abitibiexpress.ca/Sports/2014-06-02/article-3746923/Canuel-se-blesse-dans-une-chute-a-Philadelphie/1>www.abitibiexpress.ca/Sports/2014-06-02/article-3746923/Canuel-se-blesse-dans-une-chute-a-Philadelphie/1