Trentin returns after horror crash at Tour of Flanders: 'Doctor had to look all over body for bone fragments'

Matteo Trentin is on the road back. The Italian crashed in the Tour of Flanders and broke his collarbone in the process. He will return to racing for Tudor in the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. In an Instagram video, he also opened up about the consequences of the crash.

Trentin had been enjoying a very solid spring before he crashed in the Tour of Flanders. The Italian finished third in Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and then also picked up top-10 results in Milan-San Remo, E3 and In Flanders Fields. Tudor’s leader was also going well in the Tour of Flanders until he crashed 40 kilometres from the finish.

The experienced Italian broke his collarbone in the crash and was immediately operated on later that evening in hospital in Herentals, his team announced afterwards. In the announcement video for his return, he himself opened up about the injury. “I broke my collarbone in four pieces, and I think the doctor had to look everywhere in my body for bone fragments. I also broke three ribs.”

The 36-year-old rider is now almost fully recovered and is preparing for the Tour Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. “It took a while before I was fully recovered, but I am on the right path to getting my old strength back. The past week and a half has gone very well. I am almost back to my old self.”

After the race, which until recently was known as the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Italian has more plans. “Then the national championships and then maybe... maybe the Tour de France. We’ll see!”

It is expected that Trentin will ride the tour de France in service of Julian Alaphilippe. Who else will join Trentin and Alaphilippe on the start line of the team time trial in Barcelona is yet to be seen.