International Cyclocross cyclist Seán Nolan was badly injured on Friday last when he rode his bike into a rope that someone had tied across a trail at Townley Hall Woods.
The 20 year-old athlete, who is from Navan but now lives in Belgium, had returned to Ireland to ride in the XC MTB national championships which take place this weekend at Whitespots Country Park in Newtownards, County Down.
He was out for a practice ride in Townley Hall Woods when he crashed into what is thought to be a trap that was set deliberately.
Despite the excruciating pain Nolan was able to remount his bicycle and make his way to the car park at the woods where he called an ambulance.
He had to wait for around 1½ hours for an ambulance to arrive and when he eventually made it to hospital it was discovered that he had broken four ribs and fractured two vertebrae and a slightly collapsed right lung.
The incident was reported to Gardaí in Drogheda who are urging anyone with any information on the incident to contact them on (041) 987 4200.
