BSP-24 Defending champion Terpstra crashes out of Tour of Flanders

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BSP-24

CYCLING-BEL

Defending champion Terpstra crashes out of Tour of Flanders

OUDENAARDE, Belgium, April 7, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Defending Tour of Flanders champion Niki Terpstra crashed out of the gruelling one-day race on Sunday.

Dutchman Terpstra hit the tarmac with several other riders 160km from the finish of the 266-kilometre slog from Antwerp to Oudenarde over a route that takes in 24 sharp climbs, many cobbled.

Terpstra stayed down for several minutes after the crash, his Direct Energie team confirming he had been taken to hospital.

BSS/AFP/AU/18:15 hrs