BMC’s Mathias Frank crashed in California

Lucky escape: Mathias Frank is able to manage a smile after his crash in the Malibu Hills. (Photo by Georges Luechinger BMC Racing Team)

Agoura Hills , 2010-01-29

Gone with the Wind above Hollywood

For Mathias Frank, the training ride on Thursday into the Malibu Hills ended unexpectedly painfully.

A little past the half way mark on the five hour ride the young Swiss rider crashed and suffered a severe case of road rash on both legs, his right  hand and a laceration on his left elbow. “I wanted to put on my vest on the descent when a gust of wind blew me off balance and I crashed. At the moment everything hurts but these things happen“, Frank summed up his unfortunate fall. From a medical point of view one thing is noteworthy according to team doctor Max Testa: “Even though Mathias wore a Bell helmet, he still hit the ground very hard.  Nevertheless, he was able to remember everything that happened before and after the crash. This is a very good sign and eliminates the possibility of a concussion.”  Sufficient rest is now the top priority for Mathias Frank. “He will be under surveillance for the next 24 hours and then we will decide if further examinations may be necessary”, Testa explains.