RIO 2016

Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten tweets hospital photo after horrific crash

A.J. Perez

USA TODAY Sports

Annemiek Van Vleuten of the Netherlands waits for the start of the women's road race at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Dutch rider Annemiek van Vleuten's smile was surrounded by bruises in an update sent via social media from her hospital room as she recovers from a horrific crash in a women’s cycling road race at the Rio Games on Sunday.

She led the race at the time of the accident near Copacabana beach and appeared headed to victory after leaving behind breakaway companion Mara Abbott while descending with about six miles left in the race.

Van Vleuten suffered a concussion and had three spinal fractures after she lost control of her bike as she maneuvered around a corner late in the race. Her bike hit a curb and Van Vleuten flipped over her handlebars.

Anna van der Breggen, Van Vleuten’s Dutch teammate, won the race. Abbott finished fourth after being caught in sight of the finish line.

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