Broken shoulder and hand end nightmare spring for Dylan van Baarle

Dylan van Baarle won Omloop Het Nieuwsblad in his first day of the season for Jumbo-Visma, but all of his main goals were unachievable due to injuries. He returned to competition at Paris-Roubaix with the goal of helping Jumbo-Visma, but abandoned with worst injuries than those he suffered beforehand.

"Dylan suffered a broken hand, shoulder and battered face in today's crash. He will not participate in the Amstel Gold Race," the team shared late in the afternoon yesterday. Van Baarle had already missed most of the main classics block, including the Tour of Flanders, because of a leg injury suffered at Tirreno-Adriatico. Then, he crashed out at the E3 Saxo Classic as he looked to prepare last-minute for the monuments.

He was forced to miss Flanders but, having not suffered pain throughout several days, he was selected to ride Roubaix where he was the defending champion and started off with the number 1. As Jumbo-Visma broke the race apart in Wallers, van Baarle found himself in a good position. However his race - and spring - ended shortly after.

The Trouée d'Arenberg is one of the worst possible locations to crash in pro cycling due to the harshness of the cobbles, but the defending champion's race ended on those stones. He was in the peloton and was involved in the mass crash that disrupted the chase, alongside the likes of Kasper Asgreen and Fred Wright. He has suffered a broken shoulder, hand and also presents facial injuries.