UAE Team Emirates-XRG: Narváez still months away after heavy crash in Australia

In an interview with Marca, team manager Joxean Matxín mainly spoke about Tadej Pogačar’s flying form, but he was also asked about Narváez’s status. The most recent medical update dates back to January, when team doctor Adrian Rotunno completed the initial report.

“Narváez was taken to hospital for a precautionary assessment of the spine and nervous system. He sustained multiple stable compression fractures in the thoracic vertebrae, which do not require surgery at this time,” the team said after the fourth stage in Australia.

The damage was significant, but the ever-optimistic Matxín preferred to focus on what comes next. In the short term, however, it was not the most encouraging update: “I think — within the limits of my optimism — he should be able to make the start of the Giro d’Italia.”

The Giro begins on 8 May in Bulgaria, and Narváez is still on the provisional start list. UAE are planning to head to Bulgaria with Jay Vine, Adam Yates, João Almeida and Jan Christen, once again bringing a very strong core for the general classification.

Narváez is expected to help provide balance in the UAE line-up alongside Igor Arrieta, Antonio Morgado and Florian Vermeersch, but first he faces a long rehabilitation. “It was, and still is, a terrible situation in terms of the outlook. Jhonatan can’t take part in the cobbled Classics, and that was the plan.”

Whether the Giro d’Italia will be Narváez’s first race back remains to be seen. Matxín did express hope that the Ecuadorian might return earlier: “Let’s first focus on whether he can make the Giro — that would already be perfect. But maybe he’ll also make the Ardennes Classics.”