Moschetti is first to abandon the Giro following stage 1 crash, Groenewegen good to continue

Matteo Moschetti is the first rider to abandon the 2026 Giro d'Italia following the stage 1 crash that interrupted all but a small number of riders about 600 metres from the line. Pinarello-Q36.5's Italian sprinter had obvious skin abrasions in the immediate aftermath of the high-speed crash, but medical examinations later confirmed a concussion that ruled him out of continuing his home Grand Tour. With team leaders Erlend Blikra (Uno-X Mobility) and Kaden Groves (Alpecin-Premier Tech) also suffering abrasions, one of the riders who looked to have been worst affected by the crash was Unibet Rose Rockets' top sprinter Dylan Groenewegen, who crossed the line in clear discomfort, nursing what looked like an injury to his right hand and/or arm, leading to fears that the Dutch sprinter – the team's very best hope of success in its first ever Grand Tour – might be unable to continue. However, the Rockets announced a few hours after stage 1 that his injuries were not as bad as at first feared, and Groenewegen "is ready to focus on what's coming next."