Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten speaks for first time after horrific crash at Rio 2016

Dutch cyclist Annemiek van Vleuten insists she will be "fine" following her horrific crash in the women's road race at Rio 2016.

Van Vleuten, 33, was leading the race on the final descent when she misjudged a corner and was thrown over the handlebars, landing on her back into a roadside gutter.

While she has suffered three spinal fractures, her injuries are not thought to be as bad as first feared.

Writing through her Twitter account, van Vleuten said: "I am now in the hospital with some injuries and fractures, but will be fine. Most of all super disappointed after best race of my career."

The Royal Dutch Cycling Federation confirmed on Sunday van Vlueten would be kept in hospital overnight. They tweeted: "Update Annemiek van Vleuten: heavy concussion and three small fractures in her lumbar spine. She continues another 24 hours in i.c [intensive care]. She is conscious and talking."

Van Vleuten's crash followed similar incidents that saw Vincenzo Nibali, Richie Porte and Sergio Henaon all come off their bikes during the same stage of their races on Saturday.

Former Olympic champion Chris Boardman condemned the treacherous course following can Vleuten's crash. "I am past commenting - I am angry about it," Boardman said during his commentating duties for the BBC.

"I went down and had a look at the course and saw those edges. We knew it was way past being technical; it was dangerous.

"The people who designed the course and said what safety features were needed had seen it as well and left it.

"We knew the descent was treacherous. I looked at that road furniture and thought, nobody can crash here and just get up. It is really bad and that is what we have seen today."