Dylan Groenewegen (Jumbo Visma) made his first public statement after being disqualified from the Tour de Pologne for causing the crash that sent Fabio Jacobsen to the hospital and into a coma.

The crash occurred in the opening sprint finish in Poland, when Grunewegen moved the sprint line from the center of the road to the right. His action pushed Jacobsen into the barriers at high speed, and the Dutch national champion crashed through a safety device on the side of the road and struck a race official, knocking him unconscious.

Jacobsen was the most seriously affected rider, but others, including Groenegwegen, also fell. Jacobsen was rushed to the hospital, where his diagnosis thankfully revealed no brain or spinal cord damage, but he underwent five and a half hours of facial reconstruction surgery. Jacobsen's parents and girlfriend are staying with Jacobsen in Poland.

Groenewegen, who broke his collarbone in a post-race crash, was disqualified from the race and fined. His team also apologized for the crash.

"Our thoughts go out to Fabio Jacobsen and all those who were involved in today's terrible crash at the Tour of Poland. Crashes like this should never happen," Jumbo-Visma announced on its social media channels.

"We offer our sincerest apologies and will review what happened internally before issuing any further statements."

"We are sorry for any inconvenience caused.

On Thursday, news was released that Jacobsen's condition had stabilized, and Groenewegen took to social media for the first time since the accident.

"I hate what happened yesterday," Groenewegen wrote on Twitter. 'I can't find the words to say how I feel for Fabio and all those who were involved in the crash and collision. Fabio's health is the most important thing right now. Thinking about him constantly."

The peloton is united in supporting Jacobsen and his recovery. Some riders also criticized the downhill sprint finish of the first stage of the Tour de Pollogne,

saying that the finish was "a bit of a disaster.

The UCI statement referred to Grunewegen's role in the crash and opened the possibility of further disciplinary action, but former sprinter Robbie McEwen has asked the sport's governing body to review its own position regarding rider safety and roadside barriers ...

"They [the UCI] should ultimately listen to the riders and the CPAs. There needs to be certain guidelines for all races, regardless of the level or location of the race," McEwen told Cycling News.