British cyclist Tom Pidcock has been forced to withdraw from the Volta a Catalunya after a dramatic crash during Friday's fifth stage. The Pinarello-Q36.5 rider described the incident as a 'horror' fall, misjudging a corner during the penultimate descent and tumbling into a ravine. He finished the stage over 29 minutes behind winner Jonas Vingegaard.

Following medical evaluation, team doctor Lorenz Emmert confirmed Pidcock suffered likely bone and ligament damage to his right knee and wrist. The two-time Olympic mountain bike champion had been in strong form, having won Milano-Torino earlier this month and finishing second at Milan-San Remo behind world champion Tadej Pogacar. Despite attempting to continue, the team made the difficult decision to withdraw him from the race.

Pidcock expressed disappointment at missing Saturday's stage but emphasized his focus on recovery. The 26-year-old had been targeting strong results in the Spanish race after his recent successes. His absence is a significant blow to the Pinarello-Q36.5 team's ambitions, particularly given his current form and the team's investment in his performance at this stage race.