Archie Ryan counts the cost of heavy crash in sketchy finale in Croatia
Posted on: March 12th, 2021
Archie Ryan is counting the cost of a heavy fall in sketchy conditions in the rain in Croatia today when his ride at the Istrian Spring Trophy came to a painful end.
The Irish 19-year-old, riding for Jumbo Visma’s development team, was in the front group when a large number of riders came down about 3km from the finish of the 168km stage into Poreč.
While Ryan and the rest of the fallers were credited with the same as stage winner Filippo Fortin (Team Vorarlberg), who was best in a bunch sprint, time was the least of the Irish rider’s worries.
He was very badly injured in the crash and though he broke no bones it is uncertain if he will start 2 tomorrow. It seems more likely that he won’t take to the start line, which is a shame as the course tomorrow features an uphill finish.
After picking himself up off the tarmac today, Ryan limped home to finish the stage and at least give himself the option of starting tomorrow.
His team mate, Lars Boven, who won the prologue TT yesterday to take the race lead, lost the yellow jersey to today’s winner, Fortin, and slipped to 4th overall with two stages remaining.
