30 Jun 2012

NZ cyclist Michael Torkler seriously injured

7:10 pm on 30 June 2012

The New Zealand cyclist Michael Torkler is in intensive care in the United States after he was involved in a suspected hit and run this morning while training in Santa Rosa, California.

Torkler, a member of Bike New Zealand's Pure Black racing team, won the the innaugural Tour of Borneo in May, after wearing the yellow jersey throughout all of the tour's five stages.

The Business Director for Pure Black Racing, Greg Cross, says Torkler was preparing for upcoming races in the US, and training alone when he was hit.

Mr Cross says Torkler was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but he's since been moved to intensive care where his condition has been revised to serious, but stable.

He says Torkler's family in New Zealand are on their way to California.