Specialized-Lululemon’s sprinter Ina-Yoko Teutenberg suffered a severe crash in the Drentse 8 on the 7th of March, falling on her head and lying unconscious on the ground for some time.

She was taken to the hospital with facial injuries, but could be released the same day. However, Teutenberg is still recovering from the hit she took to her head, and has now decided to sit out the rest of the 2013 season.

“It is hard to admit defeat to the crash as I have gotten a lot better in the last weeks,” said the 38-year-old German. “But I am just not at the point to be an athlete and resume full training in order to get ready and be competitive. Right now I am still fighting to be able to do everyday life stuff and the main focus is that I get 100% healthy and not risk my health in order to be at a start line.”

Specialized-Lululemon team owner Kristy Scrymgeour commented: “Our initial goal was to get Ina back to racing in time for the Giro Rosa which is due to start at the end of June. We wanted to give her the chance to finish out the season but unfortunately she is not ready. We've been very careful and conservative with her as the hit to the head was very hard and with the head you can never be too careful.”

“It's been pretty hard for her,” Scrymgeour added. “She's been racing since she was six years old and she definitely doesn't like being this sedentary. She also hates letting down her team. But she supports them from the sidelines and this will give her a chance to recover fully and then make a decision later in the year if she’ll be back for another year of racing next year.”