Belgian champion Tim Wellens’ spring Classics campaign is in jeopardy after suffering a fractured clavicle during Sunday’s Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne race. The crash occurred with 110 kilometers remaining in the one-day Belgian race, forcing Wellens to abandon.
Television footage showed Wellens clutching his right arm immediately after the incident. Initial assessments confirmed a fracture of the clavicle, and he is scheduled to undergo surgery Sunday evening.
Tim Wellens’ participation in upcoming Classics races is now uncertain following a heavy fall at Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The Belgian national champion was among approximately ten riders brought down in a crash 110 kilometers from the finish line.
Wellens quickly remounted but was visibly in pain, holding his right clavicle as he rode along the side of the road. A team statement later confirmed the diagnosis of a fractured right clavicle. “Unfortunately, Tim Wellens is suffering from a fracture of the right clavicle. He will undergo surgery again this Sunday evening and will continue his rehabilitation at home under the supervision of the medical staff,” the statement read.
The crash caps a difficult Opening Weekend for several riders. Stefan Kung suffered a broken femur in a fall at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, even as Vlad Van Mechelen fractured his collarbone and Rick Pluimers lost two teeth in a separate incident on Saturday. Wellens’ exit adds another significant name to the growing list of casualties from a cold, nervous, and crash-filled start to the spring Classics season.
Having finished 45th at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad on Saturday, Wellens had hoped to be more competitive on Sunday. The timing of the injury is particularly cruel for the UAE rider, who was expected to play a key role in the hilly terrain of the race. The team will now demand to adjust its plans mid-race following the loss of one of its key contenders.
More details on Cyclinguptodate.com
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