Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers) will not be starting the Itzulia Basque Country after he crashed while training and has been taken to hospital.
Pidcock was set to be one of the starters in the first hour of the opening stage, a hilly 10-kilometre time trial starting and finishing in the coastal city of Irun.
But according to a post by Ineos Grenadiers on X, formerly Twitter, the Briton crashed while on the recon of the course and has been taken to hospital.
"I crashed in the recon this morning, the wind took me out in a corner on the circuit and I hit my hip really hard, and it can't bear weight at all," Pidcock said in an announcement.
"I'm going home now. I had some scans and they didn't show anything but we'll keep looking over the next few days because it doesn't feel very nice."
Earlier in the day the team had made a vague announcement about Pidcock's incident in a social media post.
"Tom Pidcock has unfortunately been withdrawn from #Itzulia2024 after crashing during a recon of the TT course," the post said.
"Following consultation between our Team doctor and the race medical team, Tom has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Updates to follow."
Recently ninth in Tirreno-Adriatico, and 11th in Milan-Sanremo, Pidcock was expected to feature in the action at the Itzulia Basque Country alongside teammate Carlos Rodriguez prior to heading to the Ardennes, where he finished second in Amstel and Liège-Bastogne-Liège last year.
Lots of the favourites in Itzulia Basque Country have opted to start in the first hour of racing in this afternoon’s time trial to try and avoid the rain expected for later in the day.
Tom Pidcock has unfortunately been withdrawn from #Itzulia2024 after crashing during a recon of the TT course. Following consultation between our Team doctor and the race medical team, Tom has been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/CRkz4oLHIdApril 1, 2024
