A crash with a team director's car has ended Katusha rider Rein Taaramae's Vuelta a Espana campaign, despite escaping with minor injuries.

Estonian Taaramae was hit from behind by a vehicle and removed from his bike during stage seven on Friday, which was subsequently run over and broken into multiple pieces.

The 29-year-old, a stage-winner at the 2011 Vuelta and the 2016 Giro d'Italia, felt fortunate not to have broken any bones.

"I can't be sure exactly what happened. I was suffering today. I was dropped in the group and was riding alone," said Taaramae in an official Katusha statement.

"In one moment I found myself on the side of the road and I understood that a car hit me from the back. I think I'm lucky that nothing is broken.

"My bike was broken in probably six pieces. When I saw that, I realized I was really lucky. Later that director spoke to me and said it was his fault but was unsure what had happened too. He was very sorry."

Sports director Jose Azevedo added: "Rein was dropped on the hill and the cars were passing him – he was in the middle of the cars. I think he didn't see the Cofidis [Solutions Credits] car.

"Sometimes this happens where you look to one side and can't see anything, but I think the car came and he could not avoid it so he was hit from behind.

"He flew off the bike to the right side of the road and this was a lucky thing because he was safe, but the car hit his bike and destroyed it completely. It was in a lot of pieces.

"Of course it was not on purpose, it was just something that happens in a race. He only has small injuries, but it was impossible for him to continue.

"I think he was initially in shock and these last days he's been having some stomach problems. He was suffering to finish today and then this crash, so it needed to be over for him."