Marlen Reusser (SD Works-Protime) and Lizzie Diegnan (Lidl-Trek) have abandoned the Tour de Flanders after a crash early in the race on Sunday.The two riders were just 10km into the 163km women's race that started in Oudenaarde when a crash and were taken to the hospital for medical checks.

Lidl Trek posted a brief update on its social media channels after the accident." We have received word that Lizzie Deignan has been forced to cancel the race due to a crash early in the race. I will report back as soon as I know more details," Riddle Trek wrote during the race.

The team later confirmed on X-ray that Deignan had fractured the radial head of his right arm.

SD Walks Pro Time later issued a statement confirming Reusser's injuries, which included a broken jaw and damaged teeth.

"Marlen Reusser had to leave the Tour of Flanders after a major crash. After an examination at the hospital, the 32-year-old Swiss rider was found to have broken her right jawbone and damaged her teeth. She is on her way to Switzerland and will undergo further tests at a hospital in Bern tomorrow. More details will be reported as soon as possible," SD Walks admitted.

In addition to Reusser and Degnan, world champion and two-time defending champion Lotte Kopecky (SD Works-Pro Time), American champion Chloe Dygert (Canyon-SRAM), and Monica Greenwood (Team Corp-Repsol ) and others were involved.

Kopecky and Dygert got back on their bikes and returned to the peloton, but others were not so lucky, forcing Dignan, Reusser, and Greenwood to abandon.

Live streaming video of the crash showed about 10 riders crashing in the middle of the race. It also showed several riders scrambling to retrieve their bikes and untangle themselves as team mechanics and support vehicles rushed to help the injured riders.

Dignan appeared to be injured in the face, bleeding under her right eye and from her cheek, and was holding her right arm. She sat down on the roadside grass next to Reusser. Reusser held her hand over her face and appeared to have abrasions on her lower leg.

Reusser and Deignan were taken to the hospital for examination and treatment.

Deignan and Reusser, winners of the Tour de Flanders, lined up at the race site to cheer on their respective teammates and potential winners.

Deignan was to be an integral part of Elisa Longo Borghini's Lidl-Trek team. Longo Borghini eventually won the Tour de Flanders, while Shirin van Unrooy finished third.