Sonny Colbrelli collapses after Volta a Catalunya stage one

Colbrelli, far right, was narrowly beaten by Australia's Michael Matthews, far left

Italian rider Sonny Colbrelli collapsed after finishing second in the first stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

Colbrelli, 31, was attended to by medics behind screens near the finish line before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

"Sonny Colbrelli fell unconscious and underwent further medical assistance," a team statement said.

Colbrelli narrowly lost out to Bike Exchange's Michael Matthews in a sprint at the end of stage one to Sant Feliu de Guixols.

European champion Colbrelli, 31, missed Saturday's Milan-San Remo 'monument' classic with bronchitis.

Colbrelli won last year's Paris-Roubaix monument classic - his biggest career win to date, reflecting a vast improvement in form.

He also finished second in road cycling's traditional spring classics curtain-raiser, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad.

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