BALING: The Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) organising committee will be conducting an investigation into the van accident involving Giant Cycling Team that occurred before the start of the third stage today.
Committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail confirmed that three riders, one team staff member and one driver were involved in the accident in Jeli.
He disclosed that the driver lost control of the van while taking a corner which subsequently caused it to flip over.
"All five people received treatment on site from our first responders and race doctors. The driver, staff member and one rider were sent to hospital for further checks," said Shapawi during a press conference here today.
"They underwent tests in hospital and were found to have not sustained any serious injuries. They suffered from minor cuts and some soft tissue injuries to the driver - no internal bleeding. All three of them have been discharged.
"The driver will be replaced for the rest of the tour. In addition to sustaining injuries, there was also an element of negligence on his part which caused him to miss a junction.
"This is not something we can take for granted. The committee will continue to investigate this case to determine the cause of the accident."
Three Giant Cycling Team riders - Lin Chuanyang, Wang Zichen and Huang Junlei - missed the the start of the third stage and subsequently will not be able to compete in the remaining stages of the tour.
Giant are now left with only one rider in the tour - Deng Penghai.
Penghai finished the third stage in 76th place, 30 minutes and 39 seconds behind the stage winner George Jackson (Bolton Equities Black Spoke).