Belgian rider Rik Verbrugghe crashed in todays Clásica San Sebastian breaking his collarbone.
The 34 year old Cofidis rider is searching for a new contract to continue racing professionally next season. He was beginning to show some form with his recent second place in the last stage of the Tour de Wallonie, but now his career is in doubt.
Verbrugghe told Sporza.be "I wanted to prove myself in the Vuelta" - something that is now up in the air. He had been speaking to Quick-Step manager Patrick Lefevere about a contract for 2009, but with the future in question for both Gerolsteiner and Credit Agricole signing a 34 year is looking less likely.
He continued, "I do not want a contract simply to race, I want a nice contract." With the sponsorship situation in the sport, this might have been his last race.