Mikel Nieve crashes out of the final race of his career at Il Lombardia

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Pozzovivo, Fortunato also injured in crashes in Italian Monument

Mikel Nieve (Caja Rural) waves on stage during the team presentation
Mikel Nieve (Caja Rural) waves on stage during the team presentation (Image credit: Getty Images Sport)

Mikel Nieve (Caja Rural-Seguros RGA) had an unwelcome and abrupt end to the final race of his career at Il Lombardia on Sunday. The Basque climber crashed on the descent of an early climb in the first half of the race and had to abandon due to an injury to his shoulder.

"The ending that nobody wanted for a special day for the Navarrese," his team wrote on social media.

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Nieve, 38, is best known for a trio of stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, in particular his first in 2011 where he held off the chase of Alberto Contador in the rain on the climb to Gardeccia-Val di Fassa. He also won stages in the Vuelta a España and Criterium du Dauphiné.

The race also ended in heartbreak for 39-year-old Domenico Pozzovivo, who crashed in a similar part of the race. The Italian was taken for scans of his left shoulder, elbow and ribs, according to his Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team.

The departure was a bitter shame for Pozzovivo, who was on good form and finished third in the Giro dell'Emilia last week.

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Laura Weislo
Laura Weislo
Managing Editor

Laura Weislo is a Cyclingnews veteran of 20 years. Having joined in 2006, Laura extensively covered the Operacion Puerto doping scandal, the years-long conflict between the UCI and the Tour de France organisers ASO over the creation of the WorldTour, and the downfall of Lance Armstrong and his lifetime ban for doping. As Managing Editor, Laura coordinates coverage for North American events and global news.