Mark Cavendish breaks rib in Tirreno-Adriatico opening stage crash
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 08/03/18 10:51am
Mark Cavendish suffered a broken rib and facial injuries in the crash that ended his participation in the opening stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico. on Wednesday.
The 32-year-old was taken to hospital after suffering a number of injuries in the team time trial which began the week-long stage race in Italy, having crossed the line battered and bloodied.
Team Dimension Data doctor Jarrad van Zuydam on Thursday said: "He came down pretty hard at around 55km/h and he sustained multiple abrasions and soft tissue injuries to his knees, hips, hands and some swelling on his face as well.
"But he had a lot of rib pain which we went to x-ray, and found that he has a fracture of the seventh rib on the right side. The fracture's nice and stable and should heal well."
Cavendish missed the time cut as a result of the crash, automatically ending his participation in the race, and Van Zuydam said the plan had otherwise been to allow him to continue.
Tirreno-Adriatico was Cavendish's first race since he suffered concussion and whiplash in a crash at the Abu Dhabi Tour, continuing a run of bad fortune which appears to have carried over from a 2017 season ravaged by illness and injury.
The 32-year-old said: "Thanks, as always, to everyone that's sent messages, it's hugely appreciated. It's frustrating to have crashed, particularly in light of the concussion that I sustained in Abu Dhabi, but I'm just pleased that there's no major damage done.
"Despite the pain from my injury I was really looking forward to a fast second stage and naturally disappointed that I'm not going to be a part of it."
