Van Vleuten out of Giro Rosa, Road World Championships after heavy crash involving Marianne Vos

ByEurosport

Updated 18/09/2020 at 10:27 GMT

Mitchelton-Scott's Annemeiek van Vleuten and Amanda Spratt were involved in a crash with Marianne Vos towards the end of Giro Rosa's Stage 7 in Maddaloni. Van Vleuten and teammate Spratt have now withdrawn from the race.

van Vleuten crash - Giro d'Italia 2020, stage 7

Image credit: Eurosport

Dutchwoman Annemiek van Vleuten will not defend her UCI Road World Championships crown in Imola next week after she sustained a broken wrist in a crash involving Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv) while riding for Mitchelton-Scott at the Giro Rosa.

Van Vleuten led the race and the shaken Mitchelton-Scott rider was able to complete the Maddaloni stage after recovering, as was Marianne Vos (CCC-Liv).

But Van Vleuten was subsequently taken to hospital to check on a wrist injury, while Vos revealed she had suffered cuts and scrapes but no breaks.

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Fellow Mitchelton-Scott rider Amanda Spratt was also caught up in the incident.

It was later confirmed that Van Vleuten's wrist was broken and Spratt has a concussion after taking a blow to her head, and both have withdrawn from the Giro Rosa.

Giro Rosa leader Van Vleuten involved in heavy crash in final moments of Stage 7

The crash happened when a group sprinted to the finish line but fell at a sharp turn with around half a kilometre remaining.

"I felt immediately it wasn't good with my wrist, because I saw that my wrist was not straight. I'll go home now and have an operation on my wrist on Saturday," Van Vleuten said in a statement.

"I'm super sad that it's not possible to defend the Maglia Rosa ... even more, no worlds on a course that suits me. I'm disappointed that I can't defend my world champion's jersey."

This year's Championships will be held from Sept. 24-27.