UAE Team Emirates have built themselves a very hefty team for the 2023 season, however one of their leaders for the spring classics
Marc Hirschi may miss out on the whole spring as he is forced to take time off the bike following a crash on the opening day of the
Volta ao Algarve.
"Marc Hirschi has been diagnosed with a fractured right radius bone," a team statement read this morning. Out of the several crashes that took place in the opening day of the Portuguese race, Hirschi was one of the worst affect. "He will travel home for further medical supervision and is expected to be out for up to 8 weeks."
If confirmed, his comeback would only come directly at the period corresponding to the Ardennes classics, where he would be building his form towards initially. Although he has over the last years struggled to find results, in 2020 Hirschi was the winner of the Flèche Wallone, aswell as cracking the podium on both Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the World Championships in quick succession.
UAE Team Emirates will likely still be led by Tadej Pogacar into the Ardennes classics however, with the likes of Alessandro Covi, Matteo Trentin and new signing Tim Wellens also taking part in the less climbing-filled days where Pogacar isn't to be as much of a favourite.
