Niki Terpstra's Total Direct Energy team has revealed that Terpstra will likely miss the Tour de France due to a serious injury sustained in a motor pace crash on Tuesday that will keep him out of the race for up to three months.

According to a report from Dutch television station NOS, Terpstra was motoring along when he swerved to avoid a wild goose. He was transported by helicopter to the hospital, where doctors confirmed a collapsed lung, concussion, and broken ribs and collarbone.

"Unfortunately the rumors are true. Niki fell hard today while training on his bike. He is in the hospital and will have to stay here for a few more days. It is not life-threatening, but it will take time to recover," his wife Ramona Terpstra admitted via social media a few hours after Tuesday's crash.

Total Direct Énergie confirmed his injuries and the time needed to recover.

"Niki had an accident on the highway yesterday during training and lost consciousness after a heavy fall," team doctor Hubert Long said. [He needs drainage for head trauma, a broken collarbone, a bruised back, and a pneumothorax. He's still in the intensive care unit, but will be able to go home in a couple of days. For serious trauma of this kind, the period of unavailability is 10 to 12 weeks."

Terpstra won Paris-Roubaix in 2014 and the Tour de Flanders in 2018, both racing with a version of WorldTour team Quick Step. 2019 saw him move from a professional team to Total Direct Energy, but crashes and injuries He suffered several setbacks in the In the Tour de France, he was forced to abandon the race due to a fractured scapula.

After spending the COVID-19 shutdown period at his home in the Netherlands, Terpstra focused his preparations on the rescheduled 2020 Tour de France, Tour de Flanders, and Paris-Roubaix. But now, 13 weeks before the Tour de France Grande Palais, Terpstra's race program and goals could be compromised for his second season.

The Total Direct Énergie team wished Terpstra well in his recovery.

"We have no doubt that the mental strength that characterizes him will help him through this new ordeal. We hope to see him again soon as he knows how to put the pedal to the metal. Good luck champion," the team said in a message on its website.