80kph training crash rocks Lidl-Trek's Albert Withen Philipsen: 'Sometimes sh*t happens'

This Giro d'Italia has provided yet another reminder — as if one were needed — that crashes are part of cycling. Albert Withen Philipsen has now had that reminder delivered with brutal force. The 19-year-old Dane, one of Lidl-Trek's most exciting young talents, came down very hard during a training ride and has been left considerably shaken.

The opening weekend in Bulgaria was already marred by heavy crashes — in the finale of stage one, on the descent in stage two, and on the road in stage three. But away from the race itself, things also went wrong. "Sometimes sh*t happens, and the last few days have been pretty rough…," Withen Philipsen wrote on his Instagram.

He continued: "On Friday I had a nasty crash during training. I don't remember much of it — one moment I was descending at 80 km/h, the next I was on the ground — alone, semi-conscious, trying with what little adrenaline I had left to call the emergency services as blood ran down my face."

The crash left him genuinely frightened — something he admits is a first. "I think this is the first time I've been truly scared after a crash. Luckily I was found quickly and a group of people did a fantastic job keeping the situation under control until the ambulance arrived."

Back home, Withen Philipsen gave a relieved update on the extent of his injuries. "I feel incredibly lucky to be home with no internal injuries, apart from a significant knock to my head, and no broken bones — even if I still look pretty battered."

Just how bad was the road rash? Leave it to him to find the funny side. "You know it was a serious crash when the clinic runs out of bandages after just two days," he quipped. "Recovery will take some time, but I'll come back stronger."