More Details Emerge From Ezra Caudell’s Philadelphia Crash

More details have emerged about the crash involving Ezra Caudell at Sunday’s Philadelphia Cycling Classic that left the 19-year-old American hospitalized.

Belgian racer Milan Menten, who also went down in the crash, provided the first eyewitness account of the incident during the men’s race.

As of Thursday, neither the Modern Adventure Pro Cycling team nor race officials had released a new medical update since the team confirmed yesterday that Caudell remained hospitalized with multi-system trauma.

Menten told Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws that the crash happened as the pair attempted to bridge to the breakaway about midway through Sunday’s race.

“About halfway through the race, I wanted to jump to the leading group together with Ezra. We came within 10 meters of the last rider when he looked back to see how big our lead over the peloton was,” Menten told HLN.

“Unfortunately, Ezra lost his balance because of this and ended up with his front wheel against the curb or in a manhole. His front wheel broke and he flew full force into a lamppost. He took me down with him.”

Menten, who races with Lotto Intermarché, said he immediately recognized the severity of Caudell’s injuries.

“I was in a lot of pain myself, but I saw immediately that it was serious: he just wasn’t moving anymore. It took a long time for help to arrive, because there were hardly any fans on that stretch,” the Belgian said.

“Suddenly, a woman approached us after all. She was a doctor and was able to move him safely. It was not until much later that we were taken to the hospital by ambulance.”

In a statement issued after the race, Philadelphia mayor Cherelle L. Parker said city first responders and on-site medical personnel responded immediately. She later visited the hospital with members of her team.

Menten sustained whiplash and ligament damage but said witnessing the crash had deeply affected him.

“It is the first time I have experienced something like this up close,” he told HLN. “I plan to go to a mental coach to talk about this.”

Caudell is in his rookie season as one of the leading young prospects in the U.S. peloton.

The Georgia native turned professional with George Hincapie’s Modern Adventure Pro Cycling team this year. He raced Paris-Roubaix as the youngest rider in the field and finished seventh in the elite U.S. national road race in June.

Velo will provide updates as more information becomes available.