Jakob Fuglsang facing further spell out of racing after criterium crash

Jakob Fuglsang (Astana) is facing a further spell on the sidelines after breaking his collarbone in a crash during a criterium on Friday evening.

The Dane has yet to return to full-time racing after fracturing his wrist and elbow in a crash during stage 11 of the Tour de France, but will now see his scheduled return further delayed after the crash during the criterium in Herning, which will leave him requiring surgery.

"Yesterday evening, Astana rider Jakob Fuglsang crashed out during a criterium in city of Herning," team Astana said in a statement on Saturday morning. "It was the first race for Jakob after the Tour de France."

"Right after the crash Fuglsang was moved to the hospital for the medical checking. A fracture in the left collarbone was diagnosed.

"Today, Jakob Fuglsang will be transferred to Belgium in the hospital of Herentals, where tomorrow morning the rider will have a surgery, which will be done by Dr. Toon Claes."

32-year-old Fuglsang scored the best result of his career this year after claiming the overall in the prestigious week-long race, the Critérium du Dauphiné.

Thanks to that result, he signed a contract extension with the Kazakh team, and then continued to impress at the Tour where he rode alongside Fabio Aru. Fuglsang sat in fifth place, 1-37 off race leader Chris Froome before his crash on stage 11. He soldiered on to complete the stage, but was unable to continue after starting stage 12 to Peyragudes in the Pyrenees.

The collarbone break will also put in a ride at the World Championships in doubt, with the men's road race taking place on September 24 in Bergen, Norway.

Astana have yet to put a timeline on Fuglsang's return to racing.