Europcar team leader Thomas Voeckler’s Ardennes Classics ambitions have been destroyed by a bad crash he suffered approximately 92 kilometres from the finish of the Amstel Gold Race.
The Frenchman was one of many riders who was caught up in a huge crash in the peloton, and was one of the worst affected. He quit the race and was transported to hospital, where his injuries were assessed.
Initial rumours that he could have broken his femur were inaccurate. However suggestions that he had suffered a fracture in his shoulder area were confirmed by his wife Julie, who said that his collarbone had been affected by the injury.
Even if doctors can strengthen the area with pins, it will still take him some time to get over the problem. He appears likely to miss several weeks at least of racing, but with two and a half months to go until the Tour de France, he could well have sufficient time to build up good form for that race.
The Tour was Voeckler’s prime focus this season. He finished fourth in the race in 2011, won the mountains jersey last year and has taken four stage wins in all.