Road Message Board

Saul Raisin was placed in a drug-induced coma Thursday morning by doctors in France after his condition worsened overnight following a crash near the end of Tuesday's opening stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe.

The 23-year-old Georgia resident was transported to a hospital in Angers, France, on Tuesday and was conscious and alert Wednesday. But Raisin suffered a brain hemorrhage early Thursday morning, forcing doctors to induce a coma to stabilize his condition and reduce pressure on the brain.

"The big problem is with his head. He had fallen on his face, for that he had the hematoma," Crédit Agricole team manager Roger Legeay told VeloNews. "Nothing is broken, but he had a hematoma in the brain and he is now in a coma. We don't know what happened and now we are waiting at the hospital."

Raisin fell with about 2km to go in the 193km stage from Mouilleron Le Captif to Saint Mars La Jaille, breaking his clavicle and one rib as well as suffering serious cuts and abrasions to his face.

Several other riders were injured in another pileup near the finish, including Raisin's European roommate Tyler Farrar (Cofidis), who abandoned with a broken collarbone.

French reporters on the scene said Raisin briefly lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital. Legeay said he spoke with Raisin on Wednesday, but is now anxiously waiting in Angers to hear more news from French doctors.

"I spoke with him yesterday morning and afternoon. Of course, he was very sleepy with the medication," Legeay said. "Right now we are only waiting to hear more news."

A message posted on Raisin's web page noted that his parents were traveling to Europe after hearing about their son's worsening condition. They are expected to arrive Thursday.

"Saul has had an unexpected turn for the worse. Please keep him in your thoughts," the statement read. "We are on our way to France to be with him. We will try to keep you updated."

Another Crédit Agricole team official described Raisin's condition as "very serious."

"This morning the hematoma burst and he had a brain hemorrhage," Crédit Agricole sport director Michel Laurent told James Startt of Bicycling. "There was too much blood for the doctors to get out, so the doctors induced a coma and their diagnosis is grave and reserved. Right now he's not responding."

Raisin is one of the most promising young American pros and expected to start the Giro d'Italia in May. In August, he bounced back from a broken hip in May to finish ninth overall at the Tour of Germany. In February, Raisin won his first race as a pro in the third stage at the Tour de Langkawi.

VeloNews will provide updates on Raisin's condition as information becomes available.