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news
Geraint Thomas Giro d'Italia 2017 crash.JPGGeraint Thomas abandons Giro d'Italia due to effects of Sunday's crash
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas has abandoned the Giro d’Italia due to the injuries he sustained in a crash during Sunday’s Stage 9 after a rider ahead of him crashed into aa police motorbike.
The incident saw the Welsh rider lose more than five minutes to his overall rivals and while he got some of that back on Tuesday's individual time trial, where he finished second, he lost more time on the subsequent two road stages.
> Video: "It shouldn't happen" - Geraint Thomas on crash that has wrecked his Giro d'Italia hopes
“I’ve been suffering since my crash on Sunday," he said. "I’ve had an issue with my shoulder which is manageable, but my knee has also been getting worse each day.
“Obviously it’s never nice to leave a race early, especially when it’s your main goal of the season, but I have to look at the bigger picture. I'd love to continue, but it would be a case of trying to survive each day rather than racing.
“I’ll turn my attention to the Tour de France now, and I want to arrive there with the same good form I started the Giro with.
“I want to thank all the staff and riders here," Thomas added.
"It’s been great fun and I wish them all the best for the remainder of the Giro. I’ve really enjoyed racing in Italy again. The fans have been amazing and I’ll be back.”
Team principal Sir Dave Brailsford said: “It’s desperately sad for Geraint. He has worked hard to arrive here in such great condition and we were looking forward to seeing him compete.
“As always, he has shown true fighting spirit and demonstrated what a competitor he is, but the impacts of a crash like that take their toll. We have to make sure that his injuries are managed optimally, ensure he is able to maintain his fitness and condition, and then look to set new targets.
“As far as the team goes, the GC has gone but there is still plenty to fight for and the opportunity is there for our riders to achieve a stage win in the 100th Giro,” he added.
Thomas's battling spirit in riding on for three stages despite his injuries drew praise from the race organisers in a message posted on Twitter this afternoon.
— Giro d'Italia (@giroditalia) May 19, 2017
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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9 comments
Porte's got the stones but maybe not the chops and definitely not the backup. Sky have so much strength in depth...
that really is a shame - would've liked to of seen him on the podium - seeing as he most likely won't make the podium at the tour
I'm surprised he even bothered with the last couple of days. Froome will need him in tip-top shape soon.
Waut Pouels just returning to training from a knee injury too... He tweeted he was heading to Tenerife a couple of days ago.
Which is why this is particularly dissapointing for G. He'll spend the Tour turning himself inside out for Froome with little concern for his own result. The Giro was a chance for him to step out of Froome's shadow in a grand tour.
That's his job though and presumably he's decided it's worth it financially to stay at Sky. If he'd gone to Garmin or another of the smaller teams 4 years ago he could have been the leader throughout the spring classics then again at the Tour. I reckon he'd have a Tour of Flanders, maybe a Paris-Roubaix, and grand tour podium at least.
I respect Richie Porte for having the stones to leave Sky and throw his hat in the ring as a Tour contender. Hopefully Geraint doesn't end up wishing he'd done the same. I'm guessing he'd be on a lot more money towing Froome around than Bardet or Pinot who are paid to try and win the Tour.
Agreed. I really hope Porte is the one challenging Froome at the tour and maybe put enough pressure on him that he makes a mistake.
I thought both Landa's & Thomas' contracts with Sky are up at the end of the season? Did GT renew already? Or maybe I imagined it
Sad, but not unexpected after time loss yesterday on a flat run in.