Big crash in Tour Down Under sprint stage: Van der Meulen to hospital, Mayrhofer suffers fractures
CyclingWednesday, 21 January 2026 at 10:04
Young Dutch rider Max van der Meulen abandoned the Tour Down Under on Wednesday morning local time, ending his campaign early in the opening road stage. The ambitious WorldTour rider had begun the Australian stage race with high hopes, but was forced out after a heavy crash.
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There is no known footage of the crash, but Van der Meulen was taken by ambulance to hospital. His team, Bahrain Victorious, felt it necessary to immediately communicate that Van der Meulen was “conscious” and “able to communicate while in the ambulance.” They added: “We wish him a speedy recovery and will share further updates as they become available.”
Soon after that initial update, Bahrain Victorious released a second statement. The tone remained serious: “Max underwent precautionary checks, including a brain scan. There was no evidence of bleeding. No fractures were found. He has suffered multiple abrasions and bruises. He is doing well otherwise and is expected to make a full recovery.”
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Maikel Zijlaard loses lead-out at Tudor on day 2
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The 22-year-old Van der Meulen had been looking forward to his second season as a WorldTour professional after a challenging 2025. He had openly said he wanted to make a step forward in 2026. “I just want to reach a level where I can win races. I don’t care what kind of races they are. I’ve come close a few times in finales, but haven’t quite made it yet.”
Van der Meulen wasn’t the only rider who failed to finish Stage 1 of the Tour Down Under. Tudor’s Marius Mayrhofer was also listed with a DNF. His last known report was that he was by the roadside with a puncture, but hours later his team provided clarification: Mayrhofer was involved in a crash around 40 kilometres from the finish and was seriously hurt.
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Mayrhofer suffers multiple fractures
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Medical examinations confirmed that Mayrhofer suffered fractures to his right collarbone, shoulder blade and ribs. Surgery was not deemed necessary.
The German rider posted briefly from his hospital bed with his arm in a sling: “This is not the start I had in mind, but I’m keeping my head up and looking at the future positively. It’s only January and the season is long.”
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Latest Comments
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- 👌🏻Bea08-10-2025
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- 👏👏Bea24-09-2025
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