Portuguese para-cyclist Miguel Pacheco suffered multiple shoulder fractures requiring surgery after a serious fall caused by another competitor during the Para-cycling Track World Championships in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.
The incident occurred during the elimination race. The Portuguese Cycling Federation (FPC) confirmed Pacheco’s injuries and stated that a Dutch athlete, executing an incorrect trajectory, collided with Pacheco’s bicycle. Pacheco was transported to a hospital in Rio immediately after the crash.
Before the dramatic end to his race, Pacheco had been performing solidly and progressing well. The FPC indicated he was managing his effort with control and caution, aiming for a mid-table result that could have secured a top-10 finish. Surgical intervention for his shoulder fractures is planned upon his return to Portugal.