The Dauphiné was over for Gert Dockx before it had really begun. He was involved in a crash in one of the first kilometres of the first stage. He broke his elbow and collarbone.

Dockx underwent surgery of his collarbone yesterday, all went well. Now he will need a rehabilitation of six to eight weeks. It’s a big setback for the Lotto Soudal rider.

“This is really unfortunate," he said. "I was riding very well in the Tour de Picardie and Baloise Belgium Tour. A few months ago I crashed in the E3 Harelbeke and I could not ride for one and a half week. It took three weeks before I had all my strength back.

"I was looking forward to the Dauphiné and the Belgian Championships. But the Dauphiné was over really soon. After one and a half kilometres a rider next to me was standing on his pedals, but his chain broke, he crashed and hit my bike. I fell. After sitting on the road for 30 seconds I realized it was over, I felt the pain of my collarbone and elbow.

“It’s still sore at this moment, more than when I broke my collarbone last year. My elbow is put in a open cast because it has to move sometimes. But that’s not easy because of the collarbone fracture. I’ll have to see day by day how it evolves. I’ll have to wait until I can stretch my elbow again before I can get back on the bike.

"This is the third year in a row that I break something. This is tough mentally, but I was able to make my way back to the highest level the previous times. Hopefully I can still do well in the last part of the season.”