Australian rider Mitch Docker could have lost eye during Paris-Roubaix crash

IT was the Paris-Roubaix story lost in Mat Hayman’s stunning win. Australian rider Mitch Docker was so badly injured in the race he nearly lost an eye.

Orica-GreenEDGE rider, Mitchell Docker, 29 in the 2015 E3 Harelbeke, Belgium. Docker will ride in the 2016 Mitchelton Bay Cycling Classic in support of Caleb Ewan.

OVERSHADOWED by Mat Hayman’s stunning win, Mitch Docker was so badly injured in the Paris-Roubaix there were fears the Victorian could have lost an eye.

Docker, 29, crashed face-first on to the cobbles in the fearsome Arenberg Forest in a bunch pile-up, suffering severe facial injuries.

The classics specialist was placed in intensive care in Paris and was unable to fly back to his Girona base, instead enduring a 10-hour road trip in an ambulance.

Cyclists are nails. This was Mitchell Docker after he crashed in the Paris-Roubaix today. Terry Butcher-esque. pic.twitter.com/CETKSiYmHw

— Andy Thornley (@scouser_andy) April 10, 2016

Docker’s brother Kirk said Mitch was lucky not to suffer a career-ending injury.

“He’s pretty lucky, all things considered — and it’s pretty horrific,” Kirk told Ride Media.

“He’s broken his cheekbone but it’s the bone right near his eye and he could have lost an eye …

“He’s got no head (brain) injuries; it’s all been given the all-clear.

“He’s frustrated more than anything because he was feeling really good.

“He’s making jokes but he is pretty sore.

“But in terms of what he’s done to his face: he’s broken his nose, he’s broken his cheek bone — he’s sent me a list of his injuries …

“Basically — broken cheekbone, broken nose, broken teeth and ‘face parts’.

“Heavy fall on both his knee and shoulder but no breaks.”

Docker said Mitch does not know how the crash occurred.

Orica-GreenEDGE rider Mitch Docker survived a shocking crash at the Paris-Roubaix.

“He’s watched the footage himself and because of the nature of accidents he doesn’t actually know why,” he said.

“And from the footage it’s hard to tell how it happened. But you know what Roubaix is like, it’s just super old roads and it could have been as simple as a touched wheel or whatever.

“But he doesn’t 100 per cent know how it happened.

“Basically he went over the bars and just landed on his face. What happened there is how he got those injuries.”

Kirk said Mitch is “pumped about Mathew winning — absolutely pumped.”

“He’s pretty psyched to get back on the bike,” Kirk said.

“The doctor said to him on day one that it’s probably going to take a month but he’s already planning how he’s going to get back on and how he’s going to ride and where he’s going to ride next.

“His headspace is really good considering all this. He’s in good spirits. He’s doing well.”