Mikel Landa abandoned the first Grand Tour of the year after a crash on the opening stage.
The Basque climber, who was present at the Giro d’Italia for the eighth time in his career, hit the ground in a corner with five kilometers to go, as the peloton was heading to Tirana, where the stage was supposed to conclude.
Mikel was immediately taken to the hospital, where examinations and a CT scan revealed that Mikel had suffered a stable fracture of the Th 11 vertebra. This will require Mikel to remain in a stable lying position for an extended period of time.
He will remain at the hospital overnight, before further assessment and a plan for this return home will be made.
Everybody at Soudal Quick-Step and the Wolfpack wishes Mikel a speedy recovery.
Photo credit: ©Tim De Waele / Getty Images
