Tim Wellens, Stefan Kung, INEOS... - List of injuries from Opening Weekend crashes piles up significantly

The start to the spring campaign brought with it an unwanted aspect of pro cycling: crashes. This year's Omloop het Nieuwsblad and Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne were tremendously dangerous and have led to the withdrawal of many riders after suffering injuries in many of these falls, including team leaders and key figures for many.

UAE Team Emirates - XRG have lost Jhonatan Narváez but now also Tim Wellens for Tadej Pogacar's support at Milano-Sanremo, the two men who led out his attack at Cipressa last year. Wellens crashed during Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne and has suffered a fractured collarbone as a result.

INEOS Grenadiers hasn't gone unscathed either as veteran Ben Swift has suffered a complicated pelvis injury, which is likely to keep him out of competition for several months.

At Omloop, there was a disaster scenario for Tudor Pro Cycling Team as Rick Pluimers crashed and broke several teeth in the climb where the race-deciding attack happened; whilst one of the team's set leaders for the classics Stefan Küng will be forced to miss the entire campaign after a fracture in the thigh area.

Bahrain - Victorious' Vlad van Mechelen also experienced a fractured collarbone at Omloop het Nieuwsblad, ending a spring campaign where he had been given the freedom to pursue his results.

Omloop het Nieuwsblad saw around a dozen crashed in the latter stages of the race, showcasing the worrying trend of an increase of crashes. The race was almost fully decided by this, with the peloton being constantly split by it; with a crash happening in the moment of Florian Vermeersch's attack; and the chase to Mathieu van der Poel's leading group also being heavily affected by them.

Sporza commentator José de Cauwer expressed deep concerns following the events of the weekend: "There are simply too many crashes. Yesterday you could still say that it was because of the rain, but the nervousness is really inside the peloton. Somehow you have to get some calm into that. I honestly do not know how you should do that, but this is going in the wrong direction."

In a recent interview, Italian veteran Matteo Trentin also showed himself very worried and sees that the reasons for the increase in crashes is coming from several sources; from the organizers' lack of attention to detail in sprint finishes to riders increasingly taking unnecessary risks in the peloton. “Who has to change? The organizers? Yes, but also the riders with their sports directors, because sometimes risks are taken when there is absolutely no need," Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne's third place said in February