Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado's injury isn't as bad as feared, but she may not line up for a while
Cyclocross
Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google
Stay up to date with the best cycling news by making us a preferred source on Google.
Follow us on GoogleCeylin del Carmen Alvarado now knows what happened to her hand in Zeddam, and it is less serious than first feared. Fenix-Premier Tech posted a medical update on Monday. In Zeddam the fear was a broken finger, but scans show a sprained ligament in her thumb instead. The cast has already come off. The Dutch champion will still miss Wednesday's cyclocross race in Niel, though.
ADVERTISEMENT
On Saturday evening, the fears after the European Championships looked justified. National coach Gerben de Knegt thought a fracture was likely. Alvarado then posted a cast photo on her own account, showing she was able to laugh at her misfortune with a tongue-in-cheek caption.
Read more below the photo!
Alvarado crashed at the 2026 European Cyclocross Championships
Fenix-Premier Tech: 'No ligament tear'
The team's statement on Instagram cleared up the confusion. "Ceylin sustained a sprain to a ligament in her thumb during her crash at the European Championships," it read. "Further examinations have shown that there is no ligament tear."
Ceylin Alvarado sustained a ligament sprain in her thumb following her crash at the European Championships. Further examinations have ruled out a ligament tear. She will wear a custom-made brace, and her return to cyclocross racing will depend on how her recovery progresses.- Fenix-Premier Tech on Instagram
The team posted the update along with a photo of Alvarado without the cast. She has already switched to a brace. La Libre reports that the brace was custom-built for her left hand.
Read also
No Jaarmarktcross for the three-time winner
The immediate cost is the Superprestige round in Niel on Wednesday 11 November. Losing that race hurts Alvarado more than most as she has won it three times in a row between 2022 and 2024.
There is some consolation in the standings, which Alvarado is not contending for this season. Sporza notes that she sits 12th in the Superprestige and plays no part in the overall classification.
Alvarado's return: no date yet
The team did not give a timeline. "She will wear a custom-made brace, and her return to cyclocross racing will depend on how her recovery progresses."
Cyclingnews suggests the absence could last longer than one race. It reports that this weekend's Merksplas round and the X2O Trofee race at Hamme-Zogge are also looking unlikely.
We wish Celine a speedy recovery.
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
IDL-productions
Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Dutch team coach De Knegt annoyed by European Cyclocross Championships dispute: "A bit of a let down"
Glasgow set to shine as World Cup demand outstrips expectations and Mason eyes first home cyclocross race
Pogačar, Vingegaard and Van Aert went faster again in 2026... except when they didn't
Team GB dominate, China on the rise, Lavreysen the best ever? Five takeaways from the 2026 Track World Championships
Latest Cycling News
Fears of serious injury to Alvarado, bronze medalist, after the European Cyclocross Championships
Schreiber slams disrespectful European cyclocross championship judges: 'They didn’t even let me finish speaking'
Sir Chris Hoy gives an update about living with stage four cancer: 'I'm doing pretty well really'
TotalEnergies rescued from collapse, but rider recruitment remains a problem before 27th Tour de France appearance
Tadej Pogačar reveals his insane training data in new HBO film: 'I think that's what works best'
Popular Cycling News
Sven Nys spoke with Lucinda Brand straight after European Championship drama: 'Is that enough to ultimately relegate someone'
Fears of serious injury to Alvarado, bronze medalist, after the European Cyclocross Championships
Disqualified Schreiber skips European Championship podium: 'I’m very grateful that she said that'
2026 European Cyclocross Championships Results | France and Belgium dominate in the Dutch mud
Tadej Pogačar reveals his insane training data in new HBO film: 'I think that's what works best'
Latest Comments
- Eight riders told to go for stages, and nobody gets one—hard to know what the plan was there. It’ll be interesting to see whether they pick a clear leader next time.bikebuffj10-11-2026
- Was Bernal’s 20th place really their best GC result? I thought he might have finished higher. Either way, it sounds like a rough Tour for the whole team.gearguru3310-11-2026
- Five days in breaks with no stage win is a painful stat. The team had chances, but they need to turn those opportunities into results.julien10-11-2026
- The Onley Vuelta example makes sense: a team with someone to rally around often looks much more cohesive. Hopefully INEOS can build on that rather than expecting a quick return to the Sky years.cadencekingm10-11-2026
- Thomas is right about the ambiguity. Eight riders all chasing stages can end up pulling in different directions, even if nobody’s deliberately working against anyone. They need a clearer plan once the GC leaders are out.robert6510-11-2026
- What a mess. The report makes it sound as though nobody properly explained the decision, and that’s hard to defend.jennifer1910-11-2026
- I’m still learning the rules: does moving left in a sprint automatically bring a penalty, or does it depend on whether the other rider is blocked? It sounds like Brand wasn’t impeded here.patriciaw10-11-2026
- A final decision still needs a proper explanation. If the federation’s complaint goes nowhere, I hope the officials at least review how they handled the riders afterwards.michael5410-11-2026
- Fair play to Lucinda for saying Marie had won fair and square. That kind of sportsmanship matters, especially after such a controversial decision.raceready710-11-2026
- Schreiber beat Brand on the road, so the jury needed to explain clearly why that slight deviation warranted relegation. Being cut off before she could give her account sounds appalling.lindae10-11-2026