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German track cycling national team in serious car accident: Riders hospitalized

The German track cycling team during a training session
The German track cycling team during a training sessionČTK / imago sportfotodienst / Arne Mill
The German track and field cycling team has been involved in a serious accident during a training session in Mallorca. Six riders are in hospital, according to the German Cycling Federation.

Benjamin Boos, Tobias Buck-Gramcko, Bruno Kessler, Moritz Augenstein, Louis Gentzik and Max-David Briese  were hit by a car when the team left the hotel in Palma and went on a training ride Monday morning. 

Although none of the athletes suffered life-threatening injuries, there were numerous fractures, resulting in "a long break from training and competition for some of them", according to German Cycling.

The cycling association write on their website that it was an 89-year-old driver of the car who overlooked the group of riders and drove into them.

The driver tested negative for alcohol and drugs, reported the island newspaper "Última Hora". The driver told the officers that he was distracted and had not seen the group.

National coach Lucas Schädlich apparently saw the accident happen as he was looking out for the riders from his car. The riders quckly received help on the spot.

Two of the riders, Benjamin Boos and Bruno Kessler, were on Germany's team for the 4000 meter team pursuit race at the World Cup in Ballerup. Here they won bronze, while Denmark took gold.