Less than a week after suffering a back injury on the morning of the UCI Road World Championships, Matthias Skjelmoes (Lidl-Trek) had to end his season earlier than planned.

“I was looking forward to the end of the season with some big races, but suddenly on the morning before the World Championships, I had to end the season with a severe pain in my back.

After a thorough examination of my back and an MRI scan, I was diagnosed with two herniated discs. This has forced me to end my season.”

Skelmose has been forced to shelve his plans to run in next week's Il Lombardia and will focus on his recovery.

“It's no secret that I'm sad to have to end the season this way, but injuries unfortunately come with cycling. I will now rest my body so that I can be even stronger for next season."

[8

The Dane extended his professional win total to 11 this season, including his first national time trial title and a stage win in Paris-Nice. He finished third in Ituria-Basque and the Tour de Suisse. In his debut race, the Vuelta a España, he finished fifth overall and won the prize for best young rider.

He was a dark horse in the world championship road race, but suffered a back injury during breakfast in Zurich.

That day, Danish national coach Anders Lund told TV2, “Skjelmose moved here after breakfast and it affected his back.

“I'm not a chiropractor, but it's about the muscles in the back after that move. It's not dangerous, I can ride my bike and sit, but it seems to bother me a little now.”

However, Skjelmors realized at the 60 km mark of the 273.9 km race that he would not be able to compete at the front and abandoned as he entered the circuit.