Following the recent crash of Karsten Kroon in a Tour of Qatar pileup, Oliver Zaugg is the latest Team Saxo Tinkoff rider to be sidelined as a result of a fall.
The 2011 Il Lombardia winner hit the deck on yesterday’s Mont Faron stage of the Tour of the Mediterranean and has been forced to withdraw from the race.
Directeur sportif Dan Frost explained that the injuries are not as serious as they could have been, but that he will need to take time away from competition.
”During yesterday's stage, Oliver had a minor crash and landed hard on his right hand. After the stage, he was taken to the hospital for examination and the x-ray revealed fractures on one of his fingers,” he said.
“That means 14 days out of competition and another examination before he'll be back racing.”
He was also affected by a stomach issue yesterday, as was his team-mate Roman Kreuziger.
Zaugg’s loss is a blow to the team as it has Irishman Nicolas Roche without shouting distance of a podium finish in the race. He is fifth overall starting today’s stage, sitting just 22 seconds off the race lead of Maxime Monfort (RadioShack Leopard), and is likely to ride an aggressive race to try to move up.
"Our plan was to be three riders on the final climb so we could have taken turns attacking,” Roche said yesterday, “but both Roman and Oliver did an admirable effort before the finale supporting me in spite of their illness.
“On Mont Faron, I launched a few attacks but had a bit of trouble following the pace afterwards. Of course, I'm a little bit disappointed but it's the start of the season and I'm not in peak shape yet.”
Roche finished ninth on the stage, a little further back than he intended, but his fifth overall is nonetheless encouraging. He told VeloNation this week that he believes he is in his best early-season condition for several years.
He had hoped to secure a podium finish in the race and will continue battling on today’s final leg.