A massive crash with less than 4km to go on the opening stage of the BinckBank Tour left riders far behind after Jasper Philipsen (UAE Team Emirates) won a group sprint for the stage win. Overall contender Oliver Naessen (AG2R La Mondiale) also crossed the finish line limping.

Unable to bend his right knee, Naessen finished the stage with Belgian champion Dries De Bont (Alpecin Phoenix) on his back.

This does not bode well for Nessen's Classic campaign in October.

"It was a big crash," said Nessen. 'I fear a soccer injury [ACL tear]. I hit my right knee on the bike frame. As soon as I fell over, the new players were on top of me. With my foot in the pedal, the bike turned 180 degrees under my body. So I fear joint problems, knee ligament damage. The knee is so swollen that there is no point in examining it.

"I'm waiting. I'm still going to keep going, so I crossed the line, but it might not work out."

Nessen was one of about 50 athletes who fell when Canada's Guillaume Boivin (Israel Startup Nation) turned around and his wheels made contact with the athlete in front of him. He fell over, causing a chain reaction.

Stijn Steels (Deceuninck-Quickstep) fell to the ground holding his left wrist, but eventually got up and finished with the help of Pascal Eenkhoorn (Jumbo-Visma).

There were safety concerns at last season's Binkbank Tour, with complaints from the riders' association (CPA) about the style of narrow paths and barriers used in the sprint finishes.

However, Dutch champion Mathieu van der Pol (Alpecin Phoenix) told Nos.nl that "the riders make the race dangerous."

"I think riders these days are quick to criticize. Even if you put the finish on a 10 km straightaway, riders will crash."

"Sometimes I see things that could be better protected. But even the safest finish zones can be dangerous if you come with a peloton. It is the rider who pushes and pulls."