The absence of Fabian Cancellara was a tempting enough opportunity to shine for Stijn Devolder when he lined up as the Trek Factory Racing leader in the Dwars door Vlaanderen yesterday. Even though the Belgian champion featured prominently in the decisive phase of the race and launched a fierce chase after Niki Terpstra (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), his appearance was marred by an early crash and classics specialist remains worried about its further consequences.

Devolder crashed at the bottom of the Kattenberg after about 110 kilometers of racing when another cyclist riding in front of him took him down after colliding with a car. Trek Factory Racing rider managed to remount his bike and make it back to the front group, but remains worried that a knee injury sustained in the accident will have some far reaching repercussions and prevent him from participating in the coming events.

"A the foot of the Kattenberg (second climb of the day in Mater halfway through the race) a rider in front of me collided with a car and he took me down with him," Devolder told Cyclingnews at the finish.

"My right knee worries me a lot. If you're riding there's enough blood circulation but after a night of sleep it can be all swollen. I've had a bursa membrane inflammation on my knee before and I fear that it's a bit similar now. I hope it will not affect the upcoming races. Hopefully I can start on Friday [for E3 Harelbeke]."

It had been confirmed by the Trek Factory Racing sports director Dirk Demol that Devolder was to undergo more detailed medical investigation yesterday’s evening, but so far no further information have been passed on that subject.

"The form is good but that crash gave me a big knock," Devolder said.

"I had to switch both of my shoes and my right knee still hurts a lot. My gears kept shifting, too, but there was no time to switch bikes as we were approaching the hill zone. Coming back cost me a lot of energy. We tried to make the best of it. I went flat out but it was with a hurt knee and a broken derailleur; those are small things that matter."

Despite the apparent difficulties, the 34-year old Belgian featured prominently in the decisive stages of Dwars door Flaanderen, as he made a move on the Vossenhol climb and formed a strong chasing group while being quickly joined by Alejandro Valverde (Movistar), Nicki Sorensen (Tinkoff-Saxo) and Gert Steegmans (Omega Pharma-Quick Step). Even though the trio seemed to cooperate well they never managed to reduce a gap to Terpstra and were eventually reeled in by the peloton.

Just like Valverde, Devolder admitted that Terpstra was too strong on that day.

"We were with three really strong men but we didn't come any closer. Terpstra was too strong for us. Before that I hoped for the victory but as we weren't getting any closer with the peloton on our heels we lost faith," Devolder said.

Without any further injury update, Devolder is expected to line up in E3 Harelbeke tomorrow before participating in Gent-Wavelgem and Ronde van Vlaanderen.