“There’s Nothing Inspiring or Bad A*s” – Missteps by the Swiss Team in Stefan Küng’s Crash Evoke Criticism and Heighten Safety Fears

Swiss cyclist Stefan Küng’s deadly injury during the European Championship time trial took centre stage after a shocking decision on part of his team. Photos of the cyclist continuing his ride after suffering multiple injuries to his face, head and nose surfaced online and with immense backlash followed.

Stefan Küng crashed into the barriers during the trial when he looked down for an aero gain. The split second decision meant he lost sight of his path and his bike smashed into the sides.

Swiss team falters during trial run

Multiple users uploaded a photo of Stefan on Twitter, now X, that questioned and shared their thoughts about the entire incident. Stefan Küng continued the race after the crash that broke his helmet and left him with a bloody face. The image of him making an effort to finish the race amidst visible pain prompted followers and pundits of the sport to raise questions online.

The 29-year-old cyclist suffered multiple injuries in the crash and it is quite astonishing that he finished the race. He suffered a concussion and a fractured cheekbone. He also had several hand fractures which needed surgery to repair the damage.

The team officials and manager faced immense flak for their poor decision-making and the team leader too admitted that they completely bottled the situation and reacted poorly. They put Stefan Küng’s life and safety at substantial risk.

Also Read: Belgium Cycling Star Lotte Kopecky Takes Bronze in Stride, While Praising Her Competition, “Played It Perfectly”

Stefan Kung’s incident raises concerns

Former UCI president Brian Cookson gave his two cents on the incident, sharing his thoughts on X. He urged officials to take notice of this and introduce stringent rules that keep rider safety as top priority.

Stefan is in the middle of recovery and threw his support behind the Swiss team and its management.

The injury meant that Stefan would miss the race. The UEC Road European Championship commenced on the 23rd with Dutch cyclist Mischa Bredewold clinching her maiden continental road race title. It was an absolute belter of a performance by her. The defending champion Lorena Wiebes bagged the silver medal in the race.

Stefan and the Swiss team will be cursing themselves, watching the scene of victory. Their split-second decision cost them a lot and also put their athlete’s life in danger. While the perseverance shown by Küng was praiseworthy, officials should be more proactive and flexible in their decision-making.

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