Australia's men's coxless four's preparations for the rowing world championships have taken a big hit with Alex Lloyd suffering a broken collarbone in a cycling crash and two crewmates also injured.
The four of Lloyd, Spencer Turrin, Will Lockwood and Alex Hill were on a training ride near their base in the northern Italian town of Varese on Tuesday when the accident occurred.
The crash happened just two kilometres from home following a two-hour session when Lloyd's cleat slipped out of his pedal and his fall also caused Turrin and Hill to hit the bitumen behind him at about 40km/hr.
The injury is a crushing blow for Lloyd, who has been ruled out of the world titles in France starting in less than five weeks, when Australia with be attempting to qualify boats for the Rio Olympics.
Turrin suffered bad grazing and a damaged wrist and underwent preliminary scans, while Hill also lost a fair bit of skin but it's hoped the pair will be fit to race at the world titles at Lac d'Aiguebelette.
On top of a busted collarbone, Lloyd had some bad facial grazing and swelling and will return to Australia when he's deemed by medical staff fit enough to fly.
Lockwood was cycling at the front of the group and so avoided the pile-up.
National selectors are due to make a decision on who will replace Lloyd in the four, with reserves Josh Hicks and Christopher Cunningham-Reid to be considered as well as a shuffle in seats amongst the men's eight.
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