Spanish cyclist Mikel Landa has been forced out of the Giro d'Italia after fracturing vertebrae in his back after a high-speed crash in Friday's opening stage.
"Mikel was immediately taken to the hospital, where examinations and a CT scan revealed that Mikel had suffered a stable fracture of the 11th (thoracic) vertebra," Landa's Soudal Quick-Step team said.
"This will require Mikel to remain in a stable lying position for an extended period of time," the Belgian team added.
The accident happened as a lead group tried to distance a chasing second pack on a downhill section of the course in downtown Tirana, as Albania hosts the first three stages of this year's event.
Landa was one of the riders expected to be fighting for the overall title after he finished third in two previous editions.
But on Friday he hit a curb 5km from the finish and plummeted to a pavement around a metre lower than the road on a tight left turn.
Landa's team said he will remain at the hospital overnight for further assessment and while plans are made for this return home.
The 35-year-old Basque climber, who won the mountains classification at the Giro in 2017, was riding his 23rd Grand Tour.