The Victoria cyclist suffered what was described by his Garmin-Sharp team as 鈥渁 heavy blow to the neck and head and multiple severe contusions and abrasions to the right wrist, hip, knee, left shoulder and elbow.鈥�
The team added that preliminary CT scans showed 鈥渘o fractures and no neurological pathologies.鈥�
The 32-year-old Islander will remain under observation by team medical staff.
鈥淗esjedal鈥檚 health is the team鈥檚 priority. Depending on how his recovery progresses, team medical staff as of now hope he may be able to train in a few days time, although this will depend on his recovery,鈥� said Marya Pongrace, director of communications for Garmin-Sharp.
The Belmont Secondary graduate was using the nine-stage Tour de Suisse, which concludes June 16, to prepare for the Tour de France, which begins June 29 in Corsica.
It is not known how Monday鈥檚 spill will affect Hesjedal鈥檚 plans for the Tour de France.
The Colwood-raised rider, the 2012 Giro d鈥橧talia champion, looked to have rebounded strongly after being forced out of the 2013 Giro last month by an upper-respiratory tract infection. The three-time Olympian placed fourth and ninth in the first two stages of the Tour de Suisse and was less than three seconds off the leading pace heading into Monday鈥檚 203-kilometre leg from Montreux to Meringen before disaster struck.
Hesjedal, considered sa国际传媒鈥檚 leading pro rider, had just signed a two-year extension last week with Garmin-Sharp through 2015.
It extended a successful partnership as Hesjedal has risen from support rider with the team to become its featured lead rider. It was in Garmin colours that Hesjedal won the 2012 Giro d鈥橧talia 鈥� to become both sa国际传媒鈥檚 and Garmin-Sharp鈥檚 first Grand Tour winner 鈥� and placed sixth in the 2010 Tour de France.
鈥淚 have had the biggest results of my career riding for this team and I鈥檓 very happy here,鈥� said Hesjedal at the time last week.
Hesjedal is Garmin-Sharp鈥檚 most valuable riding asset.
鈥淩yder is an important part of the team, not just because of his great results and exceptional talent, but also because of who he is,鈥� Jonathan Vaughters, manager of the Garmin-Sharp team, said last week.
鈥淲e have seen his talent grow over his years with us, something we know will continue. He is a Grand Tour champion and an important part of the fabric of Garmin-Sharp.鈥�
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