Cadel Evans crashes out of world road race championships in Italy, Alberto Rui Costa claims victory Australian Cadel Evans has crashed out of the Road World Championships shortly after the halfway mark. Australia's Cadel Evans, pictured here in this year's Tour de France, has crashed out of the world road race championships. AUSTRALIA'S former world champion Cadel Evans crashed out of the world road race championships shortly after the halfway mark of the 272.2 km race on Sunday. Portugal's Alberto Rui Costa stunned Spanish rival Joaquin Rodriguez to win the elite men's road race. Rodriguez finished second to take the silver with compatriot Alejandro Valverde taking bronze at the end of an epic, rain-hit 272.2 km race that claimed several pre-race favourites as well as the entire British team. Evans was one of several riders to come down near the barriers as the peloton chased down a five-man breakaway in wet and slippery conditions in Florence. Evans, Australia's first world road race champion in 2009, was part of the main bunch when he crashed alongside teammate David Tanner and several other riders. Host broadcaster Rai Sport announced the former Tour de France winner had abandoned the race. Evans, who won the world championships in 2009, was taken to hospital along with Victorian teammate David Tanner who came down in the same crash. It's understood Evans has a calf injury while Tanner hurt a knee. Evans was due to end his season at next weekend's Tour of Lombardy but that plan could now be in doubt