Tour de l'Avenir crashes dent GB's rainbow hopes

Under-23s have bittersweet race with glory and distaster

- James Shrubsall

The loss of Tom Pidcock and Ethan Hayter to crashes at the Tour de l’Avenir last week was described as a “significant blow” to Great Britain’s U23 Worlds hopes by coach Keith Lambert.

But he cautioned against pessimism and said that even Hayter, who broke his collarbone on stage four of the French U23 race could potentially comeback for the race in Yorkshire.

Pidcock crashed out on stage six while wearing the green points jersey, falling at speed on a wet corner and suffering a severe cut to his knee, a hairline crack in his pelvis and facial cuts and bruises. He will be off the bike for at least eight days.

“We were probably the strongest under-23 team in the world,” said Lambert.