Spring over for Marc Hirschi - After crashing at Amstel Gold Race, Tudor leader falls once again at La Flèche Wallonne

Wednesday’s La Flèche Wallonne left a heavy toll in the peloton, defined by multiple crashes that shaped the race. Among those affected was Swiss rider Marc Hirschi, a former winner of the event, who suffered a heavy fall and a frature that has ended his spring and will take him out of the Giro d'Italia.

Hirschi had already crashed at Amstel Gold Race, seemingly in the very same corner that took out Kévin Vauquelin and Matteo Jorgenson right after they had followed the move which ultimately led to Remco Evenepoel's victory.

The incident occurred at over 55 km/h in a mass pile-up, with Hirschi the first to hit the deck. The impact was particularly violent, as the Swiss rider landed directly on his left collarbone, which fractured under the force of the crash. At 27, the Swiss sees a key phase of his season abruptly cut short.

The sporting consequences are immediate. Hirschi will not line up this Sunday at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, one of the calendar’s most prestigious Monuments, where he held genuine ambitions. His absence is a significant blow at a race he knows well and where he has shown his level in the past, whilst his teammate Julian Alaphilippe has not shown good form recently.

Beyond the short term, the extent of the injury also jeopardizes his major season goals. All indications are he will miss the Giro d’Italia, which was among his prime targets for the year. Recovery from a fractured collarbone, while common in cycling, requires a timeline that makes it virtually impossible to reach the Italian Grand Tour in optimal condition.

The Tudor rider has not had the best of luck since joining the Swiss team but he has also struggled to achieve the same results he had in his previous teams. A 7th place at the Figueira Champions Classic is the highlight of his spring, which ultimately didn't lead to big results in the top races.