Rome (AFP)
The Dutch Annemiek van Vleuten, the reigning world champion in road cycling, withdrew from the 2020 World Championships in Imola (Italy) after breaking her left wrist in a fall during the Women's Giro d'Italia on Thursday.
"I am super sad, it is no longer possible for me to defend my pink jersey (of leader of the Giro and winner in 2018 and 2019, Editor's note). Sadder still, I will not be at the Worlds on a course that m "would have worked out so well. I'm disappointed that I can't defend my rainbow jersey," Van Vleuten said in a statement from his Mitchelton-Scott team.
"I immediately understood that it was serious, my wrist was no longer straight, I will now go home (to the Netherlands) and have my operation on Saturday", she added.
Van Vleuten was caught in a collective crash in the final of the 7th stage which took the riders to Maddanoli, near Naples.
She was able to reach the finish line, before being taken to hospital, just like her Australian teammate Amanda Spratt who also retired and suffers from a concussion.
Van Vleuten, 37, is the reigning world and European champion in cycling.
She also won the bronze medal in the time trial at the 2019 Worlds, a specialty of which she was world champion in 2017 and 2018.
The Worlds-2020, initially scheduled in Switzerland, will take place on the Imola racing circuit from September 24 to 27.
© 2020 AFP