Gerben Löwik crashed into a pile of spectators in the fifth stage of the Tour de Suisse. The Omega Pharma - Lotto rider suffered fractures to his nose and jaw.
On a rainy day in Switzerland, Löwik lost control of his bike in a descent. The team blamed it on a defective brake, while his personal website cites a snapped brake cable. Löwik came down and slid over the asphalt and into a pile of spectators. Fortunately, none of the bystanders were hurt.
Löwik came off with an open wound on his right leg, in addition to stitches on his lip and a concussion. Löwik adds to the number of riders who had to abandon the crash-marred Tour de Suisse.
This is Löwik's first year riding for Omega Pharma - Lotto, after spending one year with the Vacansoleil team. He was part of the Rabobank team from 2005 to 2008.
Video of Gerben Löwik's crash