BMC Racing Team's Klaas Lodewyck suffered a suspected broken collarbone Friday after he was involved in an usual crash midway through Stage 3 of the Dubai Tour.

The peloton was crossing a grate covered by carpet on a downhill section when the carpet suddenly lifted off the ground. Lodewyck went down, along with several others.

Lodewyck was taken to a hospital in Dubai where he was to undergo X-rays on his right shoulder.

"It was this carpet which was on the road and came up due to the wind from the peloton," he said. "It suddenly blocked my front wheel. Before I knew I was there on the ground. I had a lot of pain in my right shoulder.

"We had like 60-65kph and we went fast. I even lifted my front wheel to try to avoid the carpet but it hit my front wheel and then I crashed.

"It was a hard crash. First I thought everything was okay but after 1-2 minutes I felt pretty painful in my right shoulder and I decided to stop. Now we will go to the hospital and I think it is sure that the collarbone is broken."

Lodewyck was taken to a hospital in Dubai where X-rays confirmed an undisplaced fracture of the right clavicle, BMC Racing Team Dr. Roger PalFreeman said.

Friday's setback was the latest in a series of medical maladies for Lodewyck. Last September, he underwent surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat. Last June, he broke his right collarbone in a crash while racing with the Belgian national team.

"It's not that funny. It's a bad moment again. I need to look forward and first wait for the results. Then we can try to make a plan and maybe I can come back for the Giro. Now we just need to stay calm and try to make the best of it."

Dr. Palfreeman said Lodewyck will need to see a specialist to determine whether surgery will be required.

Two In Top 10

BMC Racing Team's Philippe Gilbert finished sixth and Brent Bookwalter was eighth on the stage that finished with a steep, 200-meter climb featuring sections up to 20 percent gradient. John Degelkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) took the win and the overall lead with one day of the race to go.

With a day of the race to go, the BMC Racing Team leads the team standings by three seconds over the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.