Crash ends Schleck's season

Paris - Luxembourg's Frank Schleck has called an end to his season following a crash in the men's elite event at the road world championships, his Leopard team announced on Monday.

"Frank Schleck and the team's management have decided to call an end to Frank Schleck’s 2011 season after an untimely crash at the road world championships in Copenhagen," a team statement said.

Schleck, who finished third in the Tour de France - won by Australia's Cadel Evans - last July, pulled out of Sunday's 260 km race after crashing halfway through.

"The crash happened in the front of the peloton. At first, I thought I would be able to avoid hitting the asphalt, but riders came sliding in from behind and took me down," said Schleck.

"I immediately felt a harsh pain in my right hand and had to abandon the race."

Schleck picked up heavy bruising in his hand. He also had a scan on his left knee following the appearance of swelling. Results showed "a contusion of the knee, with a lot fluid around the ligaments".

Sprint specialist Mark Cavendish won Sunday's race to become only the second Briton, and the first since Tom Simpson in 1965, to wear the road race world champion's rainbow stripes.