Video: Zana avoids serious injury despite worrying scenes after stage 11 crash

The incident happened around 40 kilometres from the finish in Chiavari, on a descent. Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) had just bridged back to the breakaway after being dropped on the previous climb and immediately upped the pace at the front. 

The acceleration put Van Eetvelt under pressure before the Belgian crashed at speed. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana) and Zana, who were riding close behind, were also taken down in the resulting domino crash.

Scaroni managed to return to the front group and still finished sixth on the stage, which was won by Jhonatan Narváez ahead of Enric Mas. Zana also got back on his bike and rode to the finish, where he was taken straight to the X-ray unit.

Despite being cleared to continue, Zana was visibly in pain after the finish in Chiavari. Video footage showed the Italian needing assistance and being helped onto a stretcher, underlining the impact of the crash even though medical checks later ruled out any fractures.

Soudal Quick-Step confirmed the diagnosis on Wednesday evening.

"Following a crash during a descent in the eleventh stage of the Giro d'Italia, Filippo Zana underwent medical examinations and X-rays. Filippo was involved in an incident when the rider in front of him crashed on a descent, but he was able to continue to the finish in Chiavari, where he was taken to an X-ray unit at the finish. The examinations have shown that Filippo did not sustain any bone fractures. He will now get a full night's rest before being examined again."

Zana, 27, is one of Soudal Quick-Step’s protected riders at this Giro. The team has built part of its mountain strategy around the Italian following a strong spring campaign, which included a tenth place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

After a medical re-examination on Thursday morning, Zana was cleared to start stage 12 to Verbania.