Dutchman Steven Kruijswijk suffered a broken rib in a crash during the Giro d'Italia on Friday, his Lotto NL team said.

The 28-year-old had started the day in the race leader's pink jersey but had to survive a spectacular head-over-heels fall on the rapid descent of the Col d'Agnel.

That cost him a couple of minutes and eventually the race lead as he struggled to the finish as blood dripped from his elbow.

After the race he was taken to the hospital in Briancon by ambulance with injuries to his elbow, knee and ankle.

He underwent X-rays where the rib fracture was discovered.

"(Kruijswijk) has a small rib fracture and is struggling with pains in his foot and side. New update, tomorrow morning," said his team on Twitter.

Saturday's penultimate stage is a tough one in the mountains with three peaks at over 2000m to scale.

Kruijswijk is third overall at just over a minute behind race leader Esteban Chaves.

Source :AFP