Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten has insisted that she will be "fine" after suffering a horror crash during the women's road race at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday.
The 33-year-old was placed in intensive care in hospital after she landed back-first on a small wall when she was thrown from her bike at a sharp right-hand turn.
Van Vleuten was leading the race with about 11km to go when the accident occurred, and despite suffering concussion and three fractures to her spine, the rider has insisted that she will be okay.
She tweeted: "I am now in the hospital with some injuries and fractures, but will be fine. Most of all super disappointed after best race of my career."
Van Vleuten's teammate Anna van der Breggen ended up winning gold, while Great Britain's Lizzie Armitstead missed out on a medal.
Written by
Danielle Joynson
Danielle Joynson
