Fabian Cancellara is extremely disappointed that Tom Boonen will miss the Spring Classics season after breaking his collarbone at a crash during Monday’s Paris-Nice stage.

“I was getting a massage when I heard that Tom [Boonen] had crashed and abandoned in Paris-Nice,” the Swiss of team Trek Factory Racing said.

“I didn’t see it on TV, but I knew that he crashed hard. Two things: He’s my rival, but more than that, he’s a person. It’s a big pity that it happens to him. He should have some luck on his side after the crashes and seasons that he had in the past.”

This is the third time in a four years fans will be denied a battle between the two greats of cobbled racing, after Cancellara broke his collarbone in the 2012 Flanders and Boonen crashed out in the 2013 Gent-Wevelgem and would miss Roubaix and DNF Flanders. Last year, Boonen was behind in preparatiosn for the Classics after his wife suffered a miscarriage before Milan-Sanremo.

“When I heard about it, I felt bad myself,” Cancellara continued. “I prefer that he’s on his bike and that he’s in the classics. I prefer that he’s there, to have him and his team, tactic-wise, it’s better."

“I hope he recovers quickly. I wish Tom well.”