Team BMC rider Alessandro Ballan suffered serious injuries yesterday in a training ride crash while descending the Coll de Rates on the penultimate day of the team's pre-Christmas training camp in Spain.

In statement published on the BMC website the Italian rider suffered fractures to his leg and rib, a punctured lung and most seriously of all an injury to his spleen.

The 2008 World Road Race Champion was coming down the Coll de Rates climb near Parcent toward the end of a four-hour training ride when he crashed at high speed. According to his team, after being taken to a local hospital by BMC Racing Team Dr. Dario Spinelli, Ballan was diagnosed with a mid-shaft, displaced fracture of his left femur, a fracture of his ninth rib and some abdominal trauma. "The broken rib actually made a small puncture in his lung," Dr. Testa said. "The first priority is the spleen injury – that is considered a medical emergency." Ballan was undergoing surgery to remove his spleen Thursday night and a decision on when and where his broken leg can be operated on will come at a later time, Dr. Testa said.

After visiting Ballan in hospital BMC Racing Team Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said:

"Of course his loss means a lot since Alessandro is one of our key riders for the classics," Lelangue said. "But most important right now is that he can recover and just get back to his normal process. We'll wait for all the medical information before even beginning to think about what could be his plan for coming back."

Given the extent of injuries it is highly unlikely that Ballan will be back in action before next summer a blow not only for the rider but also for his team. The Italian was BMC's most consistent rider in the 2012 Spring Classics finishing 3rd at Paris Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders – a race he won in 2007 and in the top 10 at Milan San Remo.