After a career rich in 70 professional victories, including three on the Tour of Spain, and three on that of Italy, Nacer Bouhanni ended his career in October 2023. But according to The Team, on April 27, the ex-French sprinter suddenly returned to cycling news by taking legal action against the Turkish federation. From whom he claims 2.5 million euros.
The cause was Bouhanni’s fall during the 2022 Tour of Turkey after hitting a pedestrian, causing a fracture of the first cervical vertebra. According to the runner who worked in particular with the FDJ and Cofidis, this incident would not have occurred if safety standards had been respected in this race organized by the Turkish federation.
“This fall destroyed my career just when I was back almost at my best, analyzes the former runner. Afterwards, I was never the same psychologically and even physically on a bike. I was never able to get back to my level after months of stopping and not being able to do anything”, explains Bouhanni, 33 years old today, to the sports daily. In detail, he asks for 50,000 euros in compensation for “the suffering endured”and 2,454,000 euros in compensation “on professional impact”.
According to his lawyer, the route of the test was not demarcated by barriers or tape. And the Vosges is not the only one to take the case to court. His team at the time, Arkéa-Samsic (today Arkéa-B & B Hotels), for its part, is demanding 4.2 million euros in compensation − via its parent company, SAS Pro Cycling Breizh − justifying that the Bouhanni’s injury caused “loss of turnover” And “loss of chance to be better ranked”.