Fernando Alonso bike crash likened to Michael Schumacher ski accident
A Spanish mayor has sparked fury after likening Fernando Alonso’s bike crash to Michael Schumacher ’s life-changing ski accident and labelling them “ironic.”
The two-time F1 champ received huge support from fans, sportsmen and politicians after being hospitalised following his collision with a car.
But Gonzalo Perez Jacome, mayor of the city of Ourense in Spain’s north-west Galicia region, appeared to blame the 39-year-old for what happened in his controversial comparison even though scant details have emerged about Thursday’s afternoon’s incident.
The politician, leader of a provincial party called Ouresan Democracy, took to Twitter to say: “Just like Michael Schumacher in his day whilst skiing, Fernando Alonso has had a serious accident on his bike.
“It’s ironic that for them both accidents occurred outside of their high-risk sport, Formula 1.
“Or perhaps it’s been because of that, because they didn’t dominate the situation even with less risk.”
He had yet to remove the controversial tweet he posted just before 11pm on Thursday night by late morning on Firday.
And he even showed he was surprised by the reaction it had generated by posting a link to a Spanish news article about his comments and writing in Spanish – ‘Flipo’ which would translate roughly as ‘Crazy!’ in English.
He went on to insist in response to a critic: “I don’t think you’re misunderstood the meaning of the tweet. I was referring to life being ironic.”
One furious social media user said: “I’m asking myself how someone like could be mayor.”
Sports journalist Pablo Egea added: “It doesn’t matter whether they’re in government, the opposition, presidents, mayors or just plain councillors.
“It doesn’t matter whether they’re right-wing, left-wing or centrists. We’ve got politicians who can’t stop embarrassing us.”
Alejandro Mora Corrales told the politician in a direct message: “I don’t think any cyclist dominates the situation when they run him over.
“I understand part of what you’re trying to say but I don’t think you’ve got it right with your words Gonzalo.
“In ninety per cent of cases cyclists are not responsible for their accidents and they’re the ones who come off worst.”
Another critic added: “There are things I can’t understand, for instance how the mayor of such an important city as Ourense can have so few brain cells.
“To begin with there’s no possible comparison between the two racing drivers’ accidents and if a cyclist is run over, it’s not their fault.
“To say Alonso hasn’t mastered a bike when he’s been practicing cycling all his life is a risky thing to say at the very least.”
Michael Schumacher was holidaying with friends and family in the French Alps in December 2013.
He was skiing with his son Mick when he fell while crossing an unsecured off-piste area, hitting his head on a rock.
His life was saved by his helmet but he still suffered a severe head injury.
The seven-time F1 world champion hasn’t been seen or heard from publicly since.
Very little information has been shared about Schumacher's current health situation, but he is thought to be still receiving round-the-clock care at his home in Switzerland.
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