Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

Back to news
news
Racing
Video: "It shouldn't happen" - Geraint Thomas on crash that has wrecked his Giro d'Italia hopesGeraint Thomas Giro d'Italia 2017 Stage 9 crash (Eurosport still).JPG

Video: "It shouldn't happen" - Geraint Thomas on crash that has wrecked his Giro d'Italia hopes

Team Sky's Welsh rider lost more than 5 minutes after coming down when rider in front hit parked police motorbike...
by Simon_MacMichael
Sun, May 14, 2017 17:29
32

Geraint Thomas says the crash towards the end of today’s Stage 9 that saw him plummet from second to 17th in the overall standings at the 100th Giro d’Italia was “ridiculous” and "shouldn’t happen."

The overall contenders and their key support riders were racing for position ahead of the climb of the Blockhaus, the group spread out across the road, when a rider in front of Thomas hit a police motorcycle that was parked at the roadside.

Thomas and Team Sky co-leader Mikel Landa were among the riders to come down, as was Orica-Scott’s Adam Yates and Wilco Kelderman of Sunweb – the latter already confirmed as having had to abandon the race.

Following the stage, Thomas – showing remarkable composure, given the circumstances – said: “That’s ridiculous, that shouldn’t happen.

“We were all racing for the bottom of the climb then next thing I know, someone in front of me hits the motorbike and you go down.

“My shoulder, it popped out as well,” added the Welsh rider.

“I felt good but then I crashed and that was it, race over. It’s really disappointing.”

“The motorbike shouldn’t have been there, frankly, I think we all see that,” said Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford after the stage.

“I’m sure the guy who was riding the motorbike sees that too and I’m not sure he’ll be feeling too great.

“But I do think we need to go back and have a look at it and ask the question, ‘Why did it happen?’ – but we fight on.”

Thomas lies 5 minutes 14 seconds behind new race leader and today's stage winner, Movistar's Nairo Quintana. Yates is one position ahead of Thomas on GC, but is now 4 minutes 49 seconds behind the Colombian.

Giro d'Italia 2017
moto collisions
Geraint Thomas
Simon MacMichael

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.

Add new comment

32 comments

Avatar
paradyzer replied to BehindTheBikesheds | 6 years ago
0 likes
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
zanf wrote:
BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Blaming the police rider when it's clearly the fault of those crashing into him, are they fucking blind?

No but you are.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

What if it had being protecting a downed rider, what if it was the medical car, a lampost, tree or rock at the side of the road?? Nope, screw that shit I'll just ride into that static object.

They werent though.

The police riders are highly trained and know that they are there to ensure the road is free of all obstructions so that the riders can concentrate entirely on racing. They know not to become an obstruction themselves.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

Whilst i'm really sorry for those taken out, their ire should be directed at the amateur nodders ( Ag2r-La Mondiale) that didn't bother looking/couldn't manage to ride wide of a large static object that was as clear as a fucking bell to see.

Your powers of observation are dire. It was a Sunweb rider that clipped the police outrider but dont let that get int he way of you talking a load of shit.

Oh, i got the team wrong, big deal, the point I made is bang on the money, maybe you and the others blaming the motorbike need to reassess your riding and indeed driving style so you crash less often/less danger to yourself and others.

 

If you're blaming someone and calling them amateurs then you're losing a fair amount of ground if you got them wrong.. I can really see  criminal law  working on the same principle (actually, in a lot of cases it does): "Oh we got the guy!! Oh, we got the wrong guy, nevermind, we got someone to stick in jail..." 

 

Avatar
hari11 | 6 years ago
0 likes

shame that Thomas crashed - was looking forward to seeing him taking on Quintana up the Blockhaus - and on the podium

Pages

Latest Comments