Broken rib adds to Cav’s frustration over crashes

Mark Cavendish suffered a broken rib in the crash that ended his participation in Tirreno-adriatico during the opening stage on Wednesday, his team have said.

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.

An update from Team Dimension Data doctor Jarrad van Zuydam yesteday morning 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.”

Yesterday’s’ stage went to German Marcel Kittel, who edged out Peter Sagan and Giacomo Nizzolo in a bunch sprint in Follonica.

New Zealand rider Patrick Bevin finished fifth to replace BMC colleague Damiano Caruso as race leader.