Italian world champion Paolo Bettini will miss Sunday's Amstel Gold Race and also next week's Flèche Wallone because of a broken rib.

Bettini crashed badly in the fourth stage of the Tour of the Basque Country last week when another rider collided with his front wheel at high speed.

He broke his eighth left rib but will return for the Giro del Trentino from April 22 in preparation for an assault at the following Sunday's Liège-Bastogne-Liège which he won in 2002.

"As a consequence of my fall in Spain I've not been able to train as much as I'd like," Bettini told Quick Step's official website.

"I won't be able to carry out intense training until Friday due to the pain from my broken rib and due to the physiotherapy sessions I'm having in order to resolve this problem.

"I've decided to take part in the Giro del Trentino hoping to get myself back into the shape I was in before my fall and to go on to have a good Liège-Bastogne-Liège.

"I preferred to opt for this change in my programme as I want to take part in the Liège. La Doyenne is the race that launched me, I have a special connection with this race."

Reuters