Colombian cyclist Nairo Quintana, winner of this year’s Giro d’Italia, crashed out of the Vuelta a España on Wednesday with a possible broken collarbone.
The 24-year old was involved in a multiple person crash after only twelve miles of Stage 11, his second fall in as many days.
The Colombian cyclist had to be evacuated by ambulance to receive treatment and will not take further part in the tour. “Nairo Quintana hurt his right shoulder and was taken by ambulance to evaluate possible fractures,” added his team, Movistar, on his Twitter account a few minutes later.
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This comes a day after suffering a spectacular fall while taking a curve on a descent during the Stage 10 individual time trial. Before his fall in Stage 10 yesterday Quintana was leading the tour. Quintana was considered one of the favorites in this Vuelta a España but lost the leader’s red jersey after his accident on Tuesday which cost him more than three minutes and saw him drop down to 11th position.
MORE: Battered, bruised but fighting on – Nairo Quintana stays in Vuelta a España
After a surprising second place in the Tour de France 2013, Quintana scored the biggest win of his career in May when he won the Giro d’Italia.
After not going to the Tour de France this year for technical reasons, the small Colombian climber came to Spain aspiring to join the select group of cyclists who have made the podium in all three Grand Tours of cycling (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Tour of Spain) .
Colombians Alejandro Valverde and Rigoberto Uran continue to compete in the tour and stay in the hunt.