Maximilian Schachmann taken down by car in Il Lombardia

Maximilian Schachmann was riding towards a top-ten in Il Lombardia on Saturday, and on the final descent of the race, when an unauthorized car strayed onto the course three kilometres from the finish and took the German national champion down in a crash.

The Bora-Hansgrohe rider tried to avoid the car but hit the rear left side with his shoulder. He was quickly back on his feet and managed to finish the race but the incident is to be investigated by the UCI after the driver was somehow allowed onto the course. 

Schachmann was on his own when he was hit but went on to finish the race in seventh place. His team later confirmed that he had fractured his collarbone.

Il Lombardia was won by Danish rider Jakob Fuglsang (Astana). 

The incident involving Schachmann was the second major incident of the day after Remco Evenepoel crashed over a low stone wall and into a ravine inside the final 50km. Evenepoel was conscious at the scene and transported to a local hospital.

"To crash like this is a huge pity, and we hope that he will be ok. He was showing good form, and has some significant races coming up, such as national championships and the Tour de France. After the race, he went to the hospital for x-rays, and we are now awaiting the results,“ directeur sport Jens Zemke said. 

"We performed an initial examination of Max straight after the finish, and we decided that he should undergo further checks. Therefore we are travelling to the hospital, where he will have an x-ray to determine if he sustained any fractures. We will provide further information when we know the results,“ Bora-Hansgrohe doctor Jan Petersohn said via the team. 

In a statement released by the UCI, the governing body confirmed that they had begun an investigation. This could result in race organisers RCS facing a punishment.

"The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is investigating the circumstances of the crash caused by a private car in the final kilometres of the UCI WorldTour race Il Lombardia (Italy) on Saturday.

"Bora-hansgrohe rider Maximilian Schachmann was brought down by the car that pulled onto the road in front of him towards the end of the 231km race. Events on the UCI WorldTour calendar are of the highest level and require fully closed roads at all times. The UCI will consider lodging a complaint with the Disciplinary Commission against the event organiser RCS Sport.

"The UCI wishes a prompt recovery to Maximilian Schachmann as well as to Remco Evenepoel (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) who was injured in an unrelated incident earlier in the race."