Fredrik Ludvigsson (Giant-Alpecin) was amongst the riders caught up in the massive crash in the peloton yesterday at the Baloise Belgium Tour involving two race motorbikes.
The race was initially neutralised, but the race organiser took the decision to cancel the stage. Ludvigsson was one of eleven riders who went to hospital were he was diagnosed with a fracture.
“Fredrik has a scaphoid fracture to his left arm,” team physician Anko Boelens explained. “For now he will wear a cast for a minimum of six weeks. He will travel back to Sweden where he undergoes extra examination to determine if surgery is needed. The average recovery time is minimally nine weeks before returning to competition.”
“It happened so fast and I couldn’t do anything to avoid it,” said Ludvigsson. “I am really disappointed but I have to accept it.”
Ludvigsson was also one of six riders along with Warren Barguil, John Degenkolb, Chad Haga, Ramon Sinkeldam and Max Walscheid who were hit by a car at a training camp in Calpe earlier this year.
I wonder how much more it will take before the UCI does something about this problem.