Horrific cycling, rugby injuries cause safety fears as sports target more int'l participants

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The sports of cycling and rugby are still counting the injury toll after a spectacularly brutal weekend.

Both the Tour de France stage from Nantua to Chambery and the New Zealand vs British Lions match in Auckland saw serious injuries that have led to calls for more exacting safety measures.

Cycling and rugby are developing fast in China, with domestic and foreign backers pumping money into competitions. But brain damage, internal injuries and broken bones may make them think twice.

Tour de France cyclist Richie Porte lies injured. /VCG Photo

On Sunday, a dozen elite cyclists came off their bikes during the ninth stage of the Tour de France. Five riders were forced to abandon the race and several were hospitalized, one with a punctured lung.

In the most horrifying crash, Australian Richie Porte was traveling downhill at over 70 kilometers per hour when he lost control in wet conditions, veered off the road into a cliff face and bounced back across the tarmac into another rider, Irishman Daniel Martin.

Leaving the course in a neck brace, Porte was later diagnosed with shoulder and pelvic fractures, relatively light injuries that have been described as miraculous given the violence of the crash.

The narrow, twisting descent of the Mont du Chat at the end of a long day of tough cycling had been flagged up as dangerous in advance.

Martin said afterwards that the race organizers had “got what they wanted.”

The tour director blamed riders' recklessness, but calls for more responsible route-planning continue after a first week of the Tour de France that saw numerous crashes and injuries.

Jonathan Sexton goes down in pain during the British Lions match against New Zealand on July 8. /VCG Photo

On Saturday, rugby world champions New Zealand slugged it out with the British Lions – a team comprising the best players from England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland – in the most injury-laden international match in recent memory.

As the Lions prepared to fly home earlier this week, they were still awaiting the results of scans on a shoulder injury to Sean O'Brien and an ankle injury to Jonathan Sexton.

O'Brien left the game at half time, seen later with his arm in a sling. Sexton finished the match looking quarter-mummy under his bandages.

Match officials were criticized for allowing three players with possible concussions to return to play in the second half, with one appearing to have been knocked out cold.

With growing awareness of the dangers of head injuries in sport and their link to brain damage, rugby players are subject to medical assessments before being allowed to play on after knocks to the head.

Rugby is on the rise in China. /VCG Photo

Sporting authorities worldwide would have been watching these high-profile contests in France and New Zealand and surely have been left concerned.

In China, the sports arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba recently agreed to invest 100 million US dollars to grow rugby in the country over the next 10 years. Governing body World Rugby is targeting one million registered Chinese players.

Tour de France organizers announced earlier this year that a special stage will be held for amateur riders in central China's Changsha in September, followed by a weekend of pro races in Shanghai in October.

The Chinese will want to ensure the safety of rugby players and cyclists as they encourage more people to get involved.