The Bahrain cycling team gave, Tuesday, March 23, reassuring news of the Italian rider Sonny Colbrelli, hospitalized in Spain since the day before due to a cardio-respiratory arrest which occurred after the arrival of the first stage of the Tour of Catalonia. “All heart tests performed last night showed no worrying signs or compromised functions”said the formation of the European champion.
Rescued in emergency, Sonny Colbrelli (31 years old) had known “an episode of loss of consciousness with convulsions and subsequent cardiorespiratory arrest”, according to the official press release of the Tour of Catalonia published in the evening of Monday.
The rescuers, who revived the runner, performed cardiac massage and used a defibrillator, according to the details of the press release. He was then transported to the University Hospital of Girona by ambulance.
“Sonny Colbrelli has since been in touch with family and friends as he recovers in hospital. He will undergo further tests today to find out the cause of yesterday’s incident.”added the Bahrain team.
A professional since 2011, Sonny Colbrelli, ranked among the fastest cyclists in the peloton (especially when the finishes are uphill), distinguished himself in 2021 by accumulating successes from the Dauphiné in June, notably winning the Italian championship then the European Championship.
The Italian, whose performance in an alpine stage of the Tour de France (3rd in Tignes) caused a sensation, finally won Paris-Roubaix in October 2021, the most important of his 34 victories.