The Catalunya Volta was in a state of shock late Monday afternoon when Italy's Sonny Colbrelli (Bahrain Victorious) was knocked unconscious shortly after taking second place in an uphill group sprint.

The rain-soaked afternoon stage ended with a short but intense climb outside San Feliu de Guichols.

As is often the case in group sprints like Monday's, riders spread out across the full width of the road, looking for team staff and asking for directions to the team bus.

The podium procedure had already begun as usual, just short of the finish line, but just a few minutes after the finish, a series of urgent cries for a doctor came from the left side of the road.

Staff from Bahrain Victorious, who were at the finish line, quickly arrived to assist the riders.

Local ambulances continued to arrive, eventually bringing a total of four to the scene, and as tensions rose, police began clearing the immediate area, moving the press and onlookers to the far side of the road and outside the barriers.

Other riders slowed down and tried to figure out what was going on as they made their way through the melee, but no further information was available.

Colbrelli's motorcycle remained leaning against the organization's car, and several medics tried to help him. Meanwhile, more onlookers gathered outside the hastily formed police line.

About 45 minutes after Colbrelli collapsed, he was transferred by stretcher to one of the ambulances, and after a short wait, the ambulance headed for the hospital with blaring sirens.

After the ambulance departed, rumors began to circulate that Colbrelli's condition was fortunately stable. However, it took an agonizingly long time for this to be confirmed as certain by the team, albeit entirely logically.

The team later announced that Colbrelli was now being taken to a hospital near Girona for further treatment.