September 27, 2014 – A massive crash in the peloton occurred on the second lap of the women’s road race at the UCI Road World Championships taking place in Ponferrada, Spain. All four Canadian women entered in this event were implicated in the crash, slimming the peloton from 134 riders to 77 riders.

Following this massive pile up, only late addition Lex Albrecht was able to get back on her bike and attempt to bridge back up to the peloton. With a five-minute time deficit and nursing an injured elbow, Albrecht eventually abandoned the race.

The three other Canadians entered in the event were not able to get back into the race, suffering various injuries.

At the present time, Cycling Canada can confirm that both protected riders expected to do well in this race were transported to hospital. Karol-Ann Canuel, who finished sixth earlier this week in the individual time trial, has been diagnosed with a hip fracture. She will stay hospitalized for observation and will remain under care until medically cleared to travel. Leah Kirchmann sustained a broken collarbone as a result of the crash. Kirchmann has been released and will return home as planned prior to undergo follow-up treatment in Canada.

In the case of Joëlle Numainville, who has just recently returned to competition after being cleared to race following a crash in 2013 that had left her with longstanding concussion symptoms, she suffered a slight blow to the head in the crash. After undergoing numerous and exhaustive tests in hospital, she has been cleared with no concussion symptoms. Numainville will be returning home as scheduled.

Cycling Canada wishes a speedy recovery to the four Canadian women involved in the crash.