There are fears that Visma-Lease a Bike could lose yet another important Tour de France rider in the lead to the race after Edoardo Affini crashed heavily in the elite men's time trial at the Italian National Championships.
The 30-year-old crashed around 6km into the 40km effort, which was eventually won by Filippo Ganna (Netcompany Ineos). Italian journalist Stefano Rizzato reported that he had to be taken away in an ambulance, though he was conscious.
Visma-Lease a Bike have not yet released any comment about Affini's condition or possible injuries.
Latest Videos From
Affini is set to line up at the Tour de France in Barcelona as part of Jonas Vingegaard's Tour de France support squad, where he would be a key part of the opening team time trial and an important helper and workhorse on the flat.
Visma's Tour team has already taken several blows before the Tour has even begun, with Christophe Laporte missing the race, and then Wout van Aert ruled out more recently due to an elbow infection.
They have drafted in replacements, most notably in Davide Piganzoli, but are lacking on the horsepower front, which is important for the flat and transitional stages, as well as any windy or tense moments. There was no rider in Visma's roster who could replicate Affini's time trialing strength if he is deemed unfit for the Tour.
Even if Affini can start the Tour next Saturday, a crash bad enough to require an ambulance is never good just a week before a Grand Tour, and even the smallest ache or pain could weaken him, especially in what will be a highly important TTT in Barcelona.
The world’s biggest bike race deserves world-class coverage. Subscribe to Cyclingnews for unlimited access to our unrivalled reporting of the 2026 Tour de France. From Barcelona through to Paris, our experienced team will bring you breaking news, expert insight, and in-depth coverage from every stage as the battle for the yellow jersey plays out. Plus, access the Cyclingnews app to follow the action on the go! Find out more.
