Rui Costa avoids fractures in Vuelta crash - Canadian classics and World Championships likely goals

Stage 5 was a calm day in the Vuelta a España until the final kilometers. There, two EF Education-EasyPost riders went down as they led the peloton. Owain Doull crashed hard but continued the race, but the fall of Rui Costa right behind, whilst initially not looking bad, caused him to abandon. The American team confirm that the Portuguese rider has not sustained fractures however.

"Rui Costa and Owain Doull crashed in the finale — Owain was able to finish the stage with extensive road rash. Unfortunately, Rui had to abandon and was taken to a local hospital for x-rays and was cleared of fractures," the team wrote on social media. "He will now return home to recover. We wish Rui well".

The Portuguese rider had an injury at the start of his season which hampered his spring quite a lot, and now suffers from misfortune once again in a key moment of the year. The Vuelta is over and with month and a half of season left, it won't be easy to recover his best form. Likely, the veteran will be aiming for the Canadian classics where he frequently performs well, and also the World Championships as the big goals for the remainder of the season.