Mia Griffin of Picnic PostNL crashed at Danilith Nokere Koerse and was forced out of the race (Photo: Tim van Wichelen-Cor Vos)
Mia Griffin (Picnic PostNL) was in action yesterday, Wednesday, at Danilith Nokere Koerse (1.Pro), suffering a crash and being forced out of the event; the Irish champion among a large number of non-finishers on the day.
Griffin was on her spare bike, and still in the reduced peloton, just as the main push for the finish was ramping up. The early breakaway had been caught and the sprinters' teams were intent on deterring attackers.
The main field was racing on tarmac, with seven cobble sectors remaining, when they approached a bend with just under 30km to go.
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Griffin came down hard on the bend, perhaps taking it with too much speed, and then withdrew from the race. However, she does not appear to have sustained serious injury, though was left with road rash following the crash.
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The Irish road race champion's team endured a difficult day in Belgium, with four of its six riders among the non-finishers. Italian Rachele Barbieri was the team's sole representative in the reduced bunch sprinting for victory, finishing in 19th place.
Griffin opened her season at UAE Tour last month and has since ridden four one-day races in Belgium, on team duties. She is currently settling into her new World Tour team, having been signed by the Dutch outfit on a three-year contract.
She secured that deal after a very strong season last year, making her Tour de France debut riding for Roland Le Dévoluy.
The Kilkenny woman claimed victory on a stage of Tour El Salvador (2.1) last year, as well as placing 4th on a stage at UAE Tour, winning the Nationals and taking two podium finishes - 2nd and 3rd - at the season-ending World Tour stage race, Tour of Chongming Island, in China.
