Omloop chaos leaves Tudor reeling: Stefan Küng breaks femur as Rick Pluimers loses teeth in Molenberg crash

Omloop Het Nieuwsblad 2026 delivered spectacle, but for the Tudor Pro Cycling Team, it brought something far more damaging.

Within the space of a single afternoon in Belgium, the Swiss squad saw Stefan Küng suffer a broken femur, and Rick Pluimers crash heavily in the decisive Molenberg incident that reshaped the race. What should have been the launch of Tudor’s spring campaign instead turned into a medical emergency.

Küng’s crash came amid the repeated chaos that marked the men’s race. The 32-year-old Swiss rider went down hard and was immediately transported to the hospital, where he remained overnight.

Medical examinations confirmed a fracture to his left femur. Due to the location and severity of the break, surgery is required. Tudor confirmed on Saturday evening that Küng will be transferred to Switzerland as soon as possible to undergo the operation.

The injury is a major setback not only for Küng personally but for Tudor’s Classics ambitions. The Swiss powerhouse has been a central figure in the cobbled campaign in recent seasons, valued for his durability, time trial strength and ability to force long-range moves. Losing him at the start of Opening Weekend disrupts the structure of their spring.

In a race defined by crosswinds, slick cobbles and multiple crashes across the Eikenberg, Molenberg and Muur van Geraardsbergen, Küng became one of the most serious casualties.

Elsewhere in the race, Tudor had already endured a dramatic moment.

On the slippery cobbles of the Molenberg, Rick Pluimers crashed while attempting to follow Florian Vermeersch’s acceleration. The fall triggered the now-famous avoidance manoeuvre from Mathieu van der Poel, who somehow stayed upright as he swerved around the stricken Dutchman.

Pluimers suffered dental damage in the crash, losing two teeth when he landed face-first on the cobbles. The 25-year-old later underwent urgent dental treatment and confirmed that his teeth and smile have already been restored.

While the injuries were far less severe than Küng’s, Pluimers will sit out Kuurne Brussels Kuurne as a precaution. His condition is stable, and he avoided fractures, but the incident effectively ended his race at a decisive moment. More detail on Pluimers’ reaction to the crash can be found in our earlier report.

Opening Weekend is often described as a reset for the peloton after winter training camps. This year’s edition felt more like a reminder of cycling’s volatility.

For Tudor, the damage is immediate and tangible. Küng’s recovery timeline will now dictate how much of the cobbled campaign he is able to salvage. Pluimers, though fortunate to escape more serious injury, begins the spring rebuilding momentum rather than building on it.

While Mathieu van der Poel celebrated victory in Ninove, Tudor left Belgium with surgery scheduled and a roster reshuffled.

The Classics season is only just beginning. For Tudor Pro Cycling Team, it already carries scars.