Stefan Küng ruled out of Spring Classics after Omloop crash

Küng, 32, went down on the cobbles in the closing kilometres and was taken to hospital in Belgium. Tudor Pro Cycling Team later confirmed the severity of the injury in a medical update:

"Stefan Küng sustained a fracture to his left thigh following a crash during today's Omloop Nieuwsblad. Given the injury's location and severity, surgery is necessary. Stefan will remain in the hospital in Belgium overnight. He’ll be transferred to Switzerland as soon as possible, where he is scheduled to undergo surgery early next week."

The injury is a significant setback at the very start of the one day season. Küng joined Tudor this winter after leaving Groupama-FDJ United and had been expected to play a central role in the team’s classics campaign, bringing experience and power to the roster.

No recovery timeline has been communicated, but with an operation required and the classics calendar moving quickly, Küng’s participation in the key races over the coming weeks seems to be unlikely.

Alongside Küng, Tudor also saw Rick Pluimers come away battered from Omloop Het Nieuwsblad after the Dutchman crashed on the rain slick cobbles of the Molenberg and hit the ground face first, breaking both front teeth and suffering visible cuts to his face. 

“I immediately felt that my teeth were gone,” Pluimers said afterwards, before being taken straight from the finish to a dentist for immediate treatment, later posting on social media that he had “got my teeth and smile back.” 

With both Küng and Pluimers ruled out after their crashes, Tudor will line up with only five riders for Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne.