Soudal - Quick-Step rider draws the shortest straw with a hard crash on the descent from Cipressa

Soudal - Quick-Step riders weren't under much pressure during Milano-Sanremo. Without a clear favourite among its ranks, it was supposed to be a simple ride. But not for Martin Svrcek, who was one of just four riders who failed to reach the finish line in Sanremo. That's because off the cameras, the Slovak rider fell quite hard in the descent from Cipressa.

"Martin Svrcek has been taken to the hospital after crashing on the descent of the Cipressa during Saturday’s Milano-Sanremo," the team informs via brief press release.

"Martin, who was making his Monument debut, remained conscious after the crash, but sustained multiple fractures including a fracture of the right collarbone, the right scapula and several ribs. Martin will remain in hospital in Sanremo under observation for a couple of days. More information will be released in the upcoming days."

The 22-year-old Svrcek is yet to leave his mark in the world of professional cycling, but the Slovak rider already showed his promise as a two-time podium finisher at the U23 World Championships. In 2023 Glasgow, he was the only rider strong enough to bridge from peloton to the winning breakaway while last year only Niklas Behrens could respond to Svrcek's accelerations in Zurich.