Van Garderen broke his right shoulder and suffered other injuries, which will prevent him from helping the BMC Racing Team defend its world team time trial championship in Richmond, Virginia, come September.

 

"I am really disappointed because I think I was prepared to do well in this Vuelta a Espana - and above all for my worlds preparation," van Garderen explained to RoadCycling.com. "But I am also thinking it could be worse. So now my focus is to recover well and come back mentally stronger."

 

BMC Racing Team Chief Medical Officer Dr. Max Testa said van Garderen fractured the head of his right humerus when he was involved in a large crash with about fifty kilometers to go in Saturday's stage. Van Garderen also has a contusion on the right side of his chest and he bruised his right lung, Testa added.

 

"Van Garderen did not break a rib, but in the impact, he had a high speed blow to his lung," Testa elaborated. "The hospital will keep him overnight. On Sunday morning they will re-check if everything is good. As soon as he is able to travel, he will return to the United States where we can make a plan for his recovery."

 

Van Garderen is the second BMC Racing Team rider to succumb to injury at the Vuelta. Germany's Marcus Burghardt was unable to start Monday's stage after crashing and hurting his left knee and face in stage 2.