Adam Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) has abandoned the 2018 Volta a Catalunya after a crash on stage three injured his back and pelvis.
The British rider could not complete Wednesday's stage after falling with a small group of riders within the final kilometre. It was unclear what had caused the incident.
While the other riders involved in the crash managed to get back on their bikes, the 25-year-old appeared to be struggling to stand up after the incident.
Mitchelton-Scott sport director Dave McPartland said in a statement: “Adam crashed just one kilometre from the finish, we tried to get him to ride to the finish but he couldn’t.
"He hit his back on the kerb and he tried to stand up but had to sit down again and had a lot of pain in his pelvis. He has gone to hospital now for checks.”
Having finished in fourth place overall last season, Yates had been part of a strong line-up for the Australian team in Catalunya alongside twin brother Simon and Colombian Esteban Chaves.
Adam was riding with the peloton as Simon was ahead in a group of four chasing lone leader Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal). De Gendt managed to evade the chasers to win the shortened stage and take the overall lead, with Simon finishing second.
The injury is a blow to Adam, who recently took a stage victory in Tirreno-Adriatico on his way to placing fifth overall.
He is scheduled to lead Mitchelton-Scott at the 2018 Tour de France – where he placed fourth overall in 2016 – with Simon and Chaves contesting the Giro d'Italia in May.
-
-
Stefan Bissegger takes breakaway success on stage four of Tour de Suisse 2021 as Van der Poel keeps yellow
The break looked to be coming back before the peloton completely sat up on the final climb
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Miguel Ángel López sets fastest time on Mont Ventoux since 2004
A look at the fastest climbers on the iconic mountain after the one-day race
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Tour de France Femmes included in the 2022 Women’s WorldTour
There’ll be more top level women’s racing in the UK with the Women’s Tour and an expanded Ride London
By Owen Rogers •
-
Simon Yates believed Egan Bernal would let him go at Giro d’Italia after reading rival’s comments in media
The British climber said he had a feeling Ineos Grenadiers wouldn’t try to chase on stage 19
By Alex Ballinger •
-
'Podium still within reach' for Simon Yates who accepts Giro d'Italia victory is beyond him now
Simon Yates concedes fighting for the maglia rosa and will now aim for the podium at the Giro d'Italia after losing time on stage 16
By Jonny Long •
-
Simon Yates says riding Strade Bianche earlier this year helped him on stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
The British rider moved up to fifth overall after holding on to the likes of Egan Bernal until the final climb
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Team BikeExchange sports director thrown off Giro d'Italia after driving into Pieter Serry on stage six
The sports director did apologise to the Belgian rider but was thrown off the race
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Simon Yates wary of third week surprises at the Giro d'Italia
The British rider comes into the race as one of the two big favourites alongside Egan Bernal
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Demi Vollering takes her first WorldTour victory at Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Dutch rider benefits from another tactical masterpiece courtesy of her SDWorx squad, with Anna van der Breggen setting up the win
By Owen Rogers •
-
Simon Yates wins the Tour of the Alps 2021 as Felix Großschartner solos to victory from the breakaway
Simon Yates took the overall title after stage five of the Tour of the Alps 2021 with Felix Großschartner holding on from the breakaway to cross the line first and take the stage victory
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
