Greg van Avermaet's injuries from his crash with just over 100km to go at today's Liège-Bastogne-Liège are much worse that his team first thought.
The Olympic champion's CCC Team initially said he had broken no bones and that has classics campaign in the weeks ahead was still possible.
However, it has now offered an update on his condition, saying he has suffered multiple fractures as well as ligament and joint damage.
CCC Team's Dr Piotr Kosielski has now confirmed van Avermaet, now aged 35 years and without a win this year, suffered a torn ligament and multiple fractures
“X-rays performed at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire du Sart-Tilman in Liège revealed that Greg sustained an acromioclavicular joint separation as well as three fractured ribs, a small pneumothorax, and a small fracture of the first thoracic vertebra transverse process,” Dr Kosielski said.
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An "acromioclavicular joint separation" occurs when the collarbone separates from the shoulder blade. A "small pneumothorax" is a less serious form of collapsed lung. A fracture of the first thoracic vertebra transverse process is a fracture to section of the bone in the spine.
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The team added of its star rider that “fortunately, he suffered no concussion”, though it now looks like his season, and his time with the team, is now over.
“These injuries more than likely mean the end of Greg’s season however, alongside CCC Team’s Chief Medical Officer, Max Testa, we will monitor his recovery and make any decisions accordingly in the coming days and weeks,” the team said.
Liège-Bastogne-Liège was won by Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), who pipped new world champion Julian Alaphilippe (Deceuninck-QuickStep) on the line.
However, Alaphilippe was relegated to the back of the front group of five for an irregular sprint that directly impeded Marc Hirschi (Team Sunweb) and, indirectly, Tadej Pogačar (UAE-Team Emirates).
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