During the second stage of the Tour of Switzerland today, Robert Gesink crashed and had to abandon. Gesink fell hard in the stage won by world champion Peter Sagan. LottoNL-Jumbo rider Tom van Asbroeck finished 10th.

Gesink fell halfway through the stage and it was soon clear that he would not get back on his bike. "We saw that it was not a crash where you put a rider on the bike and let him ride again," said Sports Director Jan Boven. “We put him in the team car and took him to the bus where he was treated by the doctor, then I went back in the race.” Gesink has several abrasions and at this moment he is in a hospital for further examinations. 

"I can’t remember anything of the crash," Gesink said. "I fell on my head and broke my helmet. I can remember that I started this morning, but after that, I lost it all."

Bert-Jan Lindeman saw the crash because he was close when it happened. "There was a hole in the road and he hit it, his hands flew off the handle bar and he fell on his face. It's too bad because we sat all day in front as a group, and this is really sour. Plus we worked hard beforehand at an altitude camp the past few weeks so this is very disappointing."

Van Asbroeck 10th, Kelderman in the front group

In the hectic sprint, the team worked for Van Asbroeck. "We know that Paul Martens and Van Asbroeck are fast, and we gave instruction in the morning in the bus to go for Van Asbroeck," Boven added. "It is too bad there was a break in the peloton and he couldn’t sprint for the win."

Wilco Kelderman finished in the wheel of team-mate Paul Martens in 22nd. "Wilco was super supported today and he did not work too much. With the loss of Robert Gesink, we will lead with Wilco Kelderman.”

Tomorrow

On the third day of the Tour of Switzerland tomorrow, the riders face a similar stage as today's. "It will be about the same as today, but with no closing circuits. Again, the final will be hectic and I expect a sprint again. In the morning we decide what to do as a team."