Andoni López de Abetxuko has made the leap to professional cycling this year. He already participated in the Tour of Portugal as staigiare wearing the jersey of the Caja Rural subsidiary and trying out with the first team in 2022. Just as Gómez Cuesta stayed in the Navarrese squad, Abetxuko joined the ranks of the orange team. His first race as a professional in 2023 was the Saudi Tour where he placed eleventh on Wednesday and twelfth the day before.
But on Thursday he went to the ground because, literally, a rival threw him. In fact, he was expelled by the judges from the race. Once knocked down, he realized that he could not continue on the bike. He spent 24 hours under observation in a hospital in Saudi Arabia and was diagnosed with a fracture of the right clavicle, scapula and four ribs. As soon as they do the relevant tests, it will be decided whether or not to undergo surgery. That decision will be made next week in the capital of Alava.
At least, he is going to miss six weeks of competition. Today she has returned with the rest of the classmates to her house making a stopover in Paris. He will rest at his home and will be examined by traumatologists from Vitoria. This unforeseen event causes her to completely change her calendar and that, for now, there is no record of in which race he will be able to dress as a cyclist again.
In that race, his team made a Top-10 overall with Xabier Mikel Azparren’s ninth place. “I think we had a great week. Lobato and Abetxuko were going to fight for the sprints and other cyclists like me for the General. The team has been very focused and in my case, for example, I reached the finals very well thanks to your work. It is very nice to see that they trust you and then to be able to meet expectations, ”she assured.