Greg Van Avermaat crashed into an unprotected sign post on the Liege-Bastogne-Liege and sat on the pavement in pain.

Initially, the injuries were thought to be minor, but the CCC team later confirmed that Van Avermaat had suffered a torn ligament and multiple small fractures.

"X-rays at the Salto Tillman University Hospital in Liège showed that Gregg had suffered a separated shoulder collar joint, three broken ribs, a small pneumothorax, and a small fracture of the transverse process of the first thoracic vertebra. Fortunately, he did not suffer a concussion," the CCC team said.

With the Ghent-Wevelgem next Sunday and the Tour of Flanders a week later on October 18, Van Avermaet will not be able to race again this season.

"However, together with Max Testa, the CCC team's chief medical officer, we will monitor his recovery and make some decisions in the coming days and weeks," the CCC team said.

Juan Avermaat, along with Bora-Hansgrohe's Jay McCarthy, crashed on a traffic island with 97 km to go, with no pads or marshals to direct them.