Adrien Costa, one of the most exciting young prospects to come out of the United States in recent years, was involved in a serious accident while rock climbing in Mono County, California.
Costa was rescued and taken to a hospital in Reno, Nevada, in critical condition; though his life was saved, doctors were forced to amputate his right leg above the knee.
His former team Hagens Berman Axeon has now begun a funding campaign to help the 20-year-old who rode as a stagiaire with Quick-Step in 2016.
“On July 29, our friend and former teammate Adrien Costa was involved in a serious accident while climbing in Mono County, California. The incident occurred on the north ridge of Mount Conness, where Adrien was climbing at around 11,400 feet, near the base of the Conness Glacier. He was scrambling up a talus field to the base of the climbing route when a large rock, weighing around 4,000 pounds, gave way and pinned his leg against a boulder below,” the team wrote on his fundraising page.
Two hikers, along with the Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue, helped to locate the rider. A helicopter was then sent to the area to free and evacuate him.
“When Adrien arrived at the Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, he was in critical condition, but thanks to the hospital’s medical staff, and the quick thinking of the hikers who first reported his location, his life was saved,”.
“Tragically, they had no choice but to amputate his right leg above the knee.”
“We have set up this page to help with medical expenses and are asking the cycling community to join our efforts. Any donations, or help you can offer in terms of sharing this link, would be greatly appreciated,”
Adrien Costa won a silver medal at the 2015 junior world time-trial championship in Richmond. His breakthrough season included a podium finish in Tour of Utah, ending with a stint as a stagiaire with Quick-Step at the Tour of Britain. However, he failed to reignite his passion for the sport in 2017, taking an extended break from racing.
