Tom Pidcock out of Volta a Catalunya as scans reveal extent of knee damage after ‘horror crash’

The Briton fell into a ravine after overshooting a corner but was able to alert his Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team via radio. Remarkably, Pidcock remounted and completed the stage, finishing 29 minutes down on stage winner Jonas Vingegaard.

Initial assessments pointed towards general bone and ligament damage, but further imaging has now clarified the injuries. Pidcock has sustained bone bruising to the tibia and fibula, including small stress fractures, alongside a suspected injury to the anterolateral ligament with a small bone fragment pulled away at the attachment point.

He has also been diagnosed with a moderate grade 2 injury to the medial collateral ligament, a sprain of the lateral collateral ligament, and significant swelling within the knee joint. He also suffered damage to his right wrist.

The scans offer further clarity on the injuries behind his withdrawal from the race.

“Due to his crash he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage in particular to his right knee and also right wrist,” said team doctor Lorenz Emmert before further examinations were carried out. “Unfortunately, we had to make the decision to take him out of the race. Further clinical evaluation and imaging will follow in the next days additionally to the already initiated healing process.”

It remains unclear whether the injuries will impact his participation in the Ardennes Classics next month, though Pidcock struck an optimistic tone.

“We did everything to try to make it to the start but it’s not possible,” Pidcock said. “I fought to finish the stage yesterday to make sure I had the option to continue. Now the focus is on recovery and I’ll be back.”

Pidcock had been in strong form prior to the crash, winning Milano-Torino and finishing second to Tadej Pogacar at Milan-Sanremo. He was also sitting second overall before his fall.

“I was drinking on the descent and misjudged a corner. I overshot it and went down the ravine. It was like one of these horror crashes you see, but I’m very lucky that I am okay,” he said.

“I am lucky I could talk on the radio. I was far from the road and nobody knew I was there. I’m happy I could finish the stage.”