Arrest after NZ cyclist injured

Michael Torckler. Photo / File

An arrest has been made after New Zealand professional cyclist Michael Torckler was hit by a vehicle on Saturday while training near San Francisco, according to United States media.

Yesterday, he had started to talk and had been taken off sedation medicine as his parents were on their way from New Plymouth to the 25-year-old's bedside at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.

Torckler, who represents professional team Pure Black Racing, was training about an hour north of San Francisco when he was struck. He was riding downhill at speed when he collided with a car travelling in the opposite direction, in an apparent hit-and-run, pressdemocrat.com reported.

Officers from the Californian Highway Patrol arrested Arthur Ben Yu, 36, the suspected driver at his home in Rohnert Park.

Linda Torckler said on her Facebook page that her son was making good progress. He had suffered minor fractures to the face and forehead and needed surgery to his nose.

"He is off sedation or almost and pain relief has been lowered heaps - he is in a good space and his breathing tube is being removed - lungs and chest are all good and no other body damage is latest update from his team manager who has spent many hours by his side ... thanks so much everybody for your love and care and thoughts for Michael and us."

Pure Black business director Greg Cross said Torckler could remember events up to an hour before the accident but nothing of the incident.

Torckler won the Tour of Borneo in May after a significant amount of time out of the sport from a knee injury.

"He's made very, very good progress to date. He worked hard to come back [from his last injury] and while it's early days he's certainly one tough young man," Mr Cross said.