A crash on the opening stage of the Tour de Féme sent one rider to the hospital and several others to the Champs-Elysées, dropping them well down the overall standings.

Alana Castric (Cofidis) suffered the brunt of the first crash on the famous boulevard with 12km to go, ending her time in the Tour de Féme.

The Belgian rider crashed along with Luxembourg national champion Christine Majerus (SD Worx), but Majerus returned to her bike and finished in 136th place. She was then carried off the course on a stretcher and taken to the hospital by ambulance.

"After the crash, Alana Castric was treated by the Tour de France Fam medical team. We hope to receive reassuring news from our rider soon," Cofidis said.

Speaking to Cycling News, Cofidis' representative Antoine Grenapin said that he and the ASO medical team are waiting for confirmation of her injuries after she was taken to the hospital. Cofidis also confirmed that a team doctor was at the hospital with Castric.

The next crash occurred with 5.6km to go. Wheels touched in the middle of the pack, causing Bike Exchange-Jayco's Amanda Spratt, Ane Santesteban, and the team's GC leader, Kristen Faulkner, to fall.

All three riders returned to their bikes, but were unable to return to the group that had already sped up for the group sprint won by Lorena Wiebes (DSM).

Spratt finished the race in 126th place, 56 seconds behind, Faulkner in 128th place, 1:11 behind, and Santesteban in 129th place, 1:40 behind.

"It wasn't the result we were aiming for, but we'll try again tomorrow," said BikeExchange-Jayco.