Evenepoel went over a bridge railing downhill but "was alive and conscious", reports the Italian television station Rai.

The 20-year-old Belgian has taken the most wins this season with nine victories.

Just over a week ago, two serious crashes occurred in Poland around where the Dutch cyclist Fabio Jakobsen's condition was initially described as life-threatening. He was placed in a coma, but was awakened after a few days and has since been transferred to a hospital in his home country.