Big blow for Maxim van Gils after Christen crash

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe confirmed the diagnosis after medical examinations on Monday evening. The Belgian crashed heavily after contact with Jan Christen (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who deviated from his line while sprinting for the remaining podium places behind race winner Tim Wellens.

Christen was later disqualified by the race commissaires for failing to hold his line. For Van Gils, however, the consequences go far beyond the results sheet.

The incident unfolded just after Tom Pidcock launched his sprint for the second place behind winner Tim Wellens. Christen attempted to follow the Brit’s wheel but drifted left in the process, making contact with Van Gils as the 26-years-old Belgian prepared to open his own sprint.

Van Gils lost balance, brushed the barriers and hit the tarmac at high speed. Shortly after the finish, Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe stated that their medical team would assess his condition and decide on his participation in the upcoming Ruta del Sol. 

That uncertainty has now turned into a far more serious setback.

“After today’s crash, medical examinations confirmed that Maxim Van Gils has sustained a pelvic fracture. Maxim will miss the upcoming months of racing,” the team said in an update on social media.

Van Gils, was just building momentum after a disrupted 2025, when illness and minor injuries repeatedly broke his rhythm.

This season started more sharply, with victory in the Mallorca team time trial and a third place at Trofeo Andratx behind teammate Remco Evenepoel.

The crash in Jaén now puts that progress on hold. Van Gils had been expected to support Evenepoel in the Ardennes and was aiming for a Tour de France spot, but a pelvic fracture leaves his spring plans in serious doubt.