 Complete the following phrase:  He opened his 1976 season with his record seventh victory in MilanSan Remo. He followed with a victory in the Catalan Week, but suffered a crash in the final stage when a spectators bag caught his handlebars, injuring his elbow. This injury plagued his performance throughout the spring classic season. He entered the Giro dItalia but failed to win a stage for the first time in his career. He finished the race in eighth overall while battling a saddle boil throughout the race. Following the Giros conclusion Merckx announced that he and his team Molteni would not take part in the Tour de France. He took part in the mens road race at the 