During the Dwars door Vlaanderen one-day race, Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert sustained a fractured collarbone and multiple broken ribs in a severe crash.
The 29-year-old cyclist will now be absent from the upcoming classics including the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and Amstel Gold Race.
Team Visma-Lease a Bike expressed uncertainty regarding the duration of his absence.
Van Aert suffered a high-speed crash 67 kilometers from the finish line of the race in Belgium, which was claimed by Visma team-mate Matteo Jorgenson.
A total of 10 riders were involved in the crash, leading to Jasper Stuyven, Biniam Girmay, and Michele Gazzoli also abandoning the race due to injuries.
Van Aert, visibly in pain with a torn jersey, was subsequently taken to the hospital.
He was considered one of the favorites for the Tour of Flanders, while the participation of fellow contenders Stuyven and Girmay is now uncertain.
Paris-Roubaix is scheduled for April 7th, followed by the Amstel Gold Race on April 14th.
The versatile Van Aert, who secured victory in the 2021 Amstel Gold Race and boasts nine individual stage wins in the Tour de France, had been eyeing maiden triumphs at Flanders and Paris-Roubaix this year.
He aims to recover in time for his anticipated debut at the Giro d’Italia, commencing on May 4th, where he hopes to secure stage victories, as he has stated his intention to skip this year’s Tour de France.
In the women’s Dwars door Vlaanderen, Dutch cyclist Marianne Vos clinched victory by outpacing Shirin van Anrooij in a sprint finish.