Jumbo Visma has suspended Dylan Groenewegen due to a crash at the Tour de Pollogne that seriously injured Fabio Jacobsen (Dečuninck-Quick Step). According to team manager Richard Plagge, Groenewegen "broke the rules of sportsmanship."

Jacobsen awoke from a medically induced coma on Friday and faces a long and difficult recovery from multiple facial fractures and a damaged trachea. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition after the crash in Katowice.

After undergoing five hours of reconstructive surgery on Thursday, his condition was upgraded after doctors found no evidence of serious neurological damage.

Groenewegen triggered the crash when he moved to the right to block the path of Jacobsen, who was approaching rapidly along the barrier after a premature hit. He gave an emotional interview to Dutch broadcaster NOS (open in new tab) on Friday, saying he was sorry for what he had done.

"Let me make it clear that I didn't mean to endanger the other riders," he said. But this was clearly my mistake. I went off my line.

The crash was made more violent when a roadside barrier meant to isolate spectators from the track collapsed when Jacobsen crashed. In addition to seriously injuring the Dutch champion, the barriers broke apart and spun out onto the road, sending Marc Sarrault (Groupama-FDJ), Eduardo Prades (Movistar), and Damien Touze (Cofidis) crashing.

Groenewegen himself broke his collarbone, but in the aftermath he barely noticed.

"Everything was going so fast and the barriers were flying around. I crashed and fell to the floor, and other racers crashed too. It was a riot," he said, his eyes teary.

Everyone who saw the incident was horrified by the devastation, and several members of Jacobsen's team became emotional and made thoughtless remarks. Deceuninck-Quickstep director Patrick Lefebvre commented that Gronewegen should be held criminally responsible for his actions.

"I think everyone is emotional, and so am I," Groenewegen said, adding that even without the broken collarbone, he probably would not want to ride again so soon.

"Even thinking about sprinting is very far away now. I don't even want to think about riding a bike in the next few months. We'll have to see what happens next. Hopefully Fabio will be fully recovered and we can compete in sprints in the future," a translation of CyclingTips reported.

The team released a statement on Friday, saying, "Team Jumbo Visma stands for fair sportsmanship within the rules. Dylan broke the rules of the sport. We have decided not to allow Dylan to race pending the decision of the Disciplinary Committee that the UCI has taken over the case. For now, Fabio's health and recovery is our top priority. Our thoughts go out to Fabio Jacobsen and all those who were involved in the terrible crash of the Tour of Poland."

The team condemned the harsh criticism Groenewegen has endured. He said, "As a team, we will support Dylan and his family through this (emotionally) difficult time for them. Some of the way they have approached this is reprehensible."