The Ardennes campaign loses one of its highly anticipated protagonists, a rider capable of creating spectacular and often decisive moves on the hills of the Netherlands and Belgium.

Irishman Ben Healy is forced to skip the next three classics after tests confirmed a small non-displaced sacral fracture, a consequence of the crash he suffered at Itzulia Basque Country. 

Ben had prepared extensively for these races and comments: "It's devastating, but I'm forced to accept the situation. I try not to think about it too much, but it will be tough watching the Ardennes and not being able to be a protagonist. Unfortunately, this is cycling. That's just how it is".