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After appearing nice form at Strade Bianche with an eighth-place end, the remainder of Michael Valgren’s (EF Training-EasyPost) Classics marketing campaign has been plunged into doubt after breaking his collarbone at Tirreno-Adriatico.
Valgren crashed 11.4km from the end in Follonica on level 2 after a slightly of wheels and crash for Dylan Groenewegen (Jayco AlUla) rippled again throughout the peloton, inflicting the EF rider and Xabier Azparren (Q36.5 Professional Biking) to head down.
The Dane did not proceed the race, and after being taken for X-rays, his group showed on Tuesday night that he had fractured his proper clavicle. Groenewegen and Azparren each completed the level, however Azparren additionally deserted forward of day 3 because of a concussion.
“Michael Valgren fractured his right collarbone in his crash today at Tirreno-Adriatico,” learn a social media publish from his group.
“Collarbone 1, Michael 0,” stated the Dane on his Instagram tale, pictured in a sling after the level.
A former winner of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in 2018, Valgren will now most likely fail to see the cobbled Flemish Classics that kick off absolutely on the E3 Saxo Vintage on March 28 and run via to the Excursion of Flanders, the place he is completed fourth previously, on April 6.
Valgren may nonetheless make it again in time for the hilly Ardennes Classics that get started with any other race he is received previously, Amstel Gold Race, on April 20.
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Having proven indicators of his earlier absolute best 3 years after his close to career-ending crash at Los angeles Path d’Occitanie in 2022, Valgren could be one among EF’s co-leaders if he returns in time, along Ben Healy, who additionally completed within the best ten of Strade Bianche.
A former teammate of Valgren’s, Alberto Bettiol (XDS-Astana), has additionally deserted Tirreno-Adriatico because of sickness, desiring time to go back to best form forward of the Spring Classics.
“Today we start [with] six. Alberto Bettiol felt ill recently and after yesterday’s stage had a fever,” stated the Italian rider’s group on X. “It was decided to let him recover fully for the upcoming classics.”
Will have to he recuperate in time, Bettiol will lead XDS Astana on the Classics, beginning with Milan-San Remo on Saturday earlier than heading to the cobbled races in Belgium as a former winner of the Excursion of Flanders.
Of the 168 starters on the Race of the Two Seas, there are most effective 158 ultimate mid-way throughout the 3rd level, with David Gaudu (Groupama-FDJ) leaving behind after crashing and injuring his elbow the day gone by, and Robbe Ghys (Alpecin-Deceuninck) now not beginning level 3 because of “personal reasons related to his wife’s pregnancy”.
