Kiwi cyclist Dion Smith has been one of the victims of a crash-filled finale at Fleche Wallonne yesterday.
Smith, who has been impressive in a helping role in his first season with the Mitchelton-Scott squad, was one of several riders unable to finish the Belgian classic after going down hard in a crash with 35 kilometres to go.
The 26-year-old, who had claimed top 25 finishes in his last two classics - the Amstel Gold Race and Brabantse Pijl - despite not being the lead rider for his team, was forced to withdraw after the painful landing, and he wasn't the last rider to have to do so.
![Dion Smith crashed out of Fleche Wallonne. Photo / Getty](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/3BIZNAIQBI2EV7H3EQTH77BPQI.jpg?auth=278af3f4d85b914ccb6e9a12451ba4f20d90fd3526f4379a35f482b9b647f50c&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)
Remarkably, only one of the seven riders from Mitchelton-Scott - Australian climber Damien Howson - was able to finish the race, with all of his teammates coming unstuck in crashes, including one of the favourites for the race, Adam Yates.