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news
Geraint Thomas and Warren Barguil TdF 2015 Stage 16 crashVideo: Watch the horrific-looking crash that could have ended Geraint Thomas's Tour de France
Geraint Thomas of Team Sky remains sixth overall at the Tour de France despite a horrific looking crash today that would have had anyone watching fearing the worst – saying that other than being “a bit shaken up,” he was otherwise fine.
The Welsh rider was negotiating a right-hand hairpin bend on the descent of the Col de la Manse towards the end of today’s stage when Giant-Alpecin’s Warren Barguil made contact with him after braking late.
The touch of shoulders sent Thomas off his line and off the side of the road, where he collided with a telegraph pole, his helmet seeming to take much of the impact, which sent him tumbling off his bike, as shown in this footage.
BANG! Bad crash for @GeraintThomas86 who's sent hurtling off the road into telegraph pole #TDF2015 #homeofcycling https://t.co/Xau74NXA0Z
— British Eurosport (@EurosportUKTV) July 20, 2015
“I’m alright, a bit shaken up but fine,” said Thomas after the stage.
With a smile that had his interviewer, former team mate turned Eurosport presenter Juan Antonio Flecha, chuckling, he added: “I’ve had a lot worse.”
Asked if he expects to make the front page of L’Equipe tomorrow, Thomas laughed: “Maybe. But that’s what I need to do to get on the front page these days.
“It’s frustrating because you try so hard to get over that climb … I don’t know why some guys sit where you are on the descent, what’s the difference between fifth and third?
“Just get down the descent, everyone knows it’s a tough descent,” Thomas added.
News he is okay will provide a boost to Team Sky as the race heads into the Alps following tomorrow's rest day, with Froome already denied the services of one of his support riders today as Peter Kennaugh succumbed to illness.
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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37 comments
This was the best tweet about that incident:
Huw Williams @huw_williams1
Hey @WarrenBarguil, novice racers' sessions @cyclopark. We teach them why diving down the inside of hairpins isn't a good idea. Come along.
How the G man didn't break his neck or clavicle in that high speed impact is one of life's wonders. Amazeballs reactions!
Can anyone tell me the name of that object he was wearing on his head which probably saved his life and where can I get one ?
Thanks.
Suppose a state made helmets compulsory, and wearing went up from about a third of cyclists to well over 90%. Wouldn't you suppose that the result would be a big reduction in cyclist casualties? I'm afraid you cannot tell when the law was enacted by looking at the casualty rate because there was no change. Odd.
Here is a look at the New Zealand law results. Again, no reduction in casualty rates. How do you explain that?
http://rdrf.org.uk/2013/12/17/the-effects-of-new-zealands-cycle-helmet-law/
When scientists examine a question they like to get as much data as possible. One incident is an anecdote. Collecting the effects on a whole population of cyclists is the way to get at the truth.
Its also significant that Australia, where helmet wearing approaches 100% has a cycling casualty rate more than twice ours.
Crikey. No helmet debate? Safe to assume that it is now settled that a helmet is better than no helmet at all. Much as wearing underpants in a waist high field of thistles is better than being naked.
Barguill was in the wrong. If you try to overtake in a group like that with the person in front deciding their line then you get what you deserve. Unfortunately G got what Barguill deserved.
After a couple of close calls with people who thought they could judge braking and corners and couldn't - I always either have people I've just met descend behind me or give them at least 6 bike's length in front.
In a pro race that isn't always possible but Barguill had nothing to gain at all and should have known better.
Never mind drug tests, he should be tested to see if he is actually human. Even Hinault didn't take a telegraph post out on his way down a ravine...
Doesn't Barguil have form for this?
If the knock with Teejay put him offline (probably Barguil who caused this) would he not have been better knocking the speed off a whole lot earlier rather than coming into the corner on a ridiculously stupid line?
My thoughts exactly. There were quite a few seconds between his contact with Teejay and entry into the bend. Enough for him to scrub off enough speed to take the inside of the corner slowly. But he didn't. He appeared to aim for Thomas to keep him on course and took him out. I was appalled.
He was obviously his usual self in the interview afterwards, which was very relieving. Hope there are no lasting effects. I was glad to hear of the French spectator who helped him back up. I expect he/she was glad that Thomas aimed for the gap between spectators!
I was also amazed his bike was ok. I think he crashed incredibly skilfully!
On the BBC website he explains that he did change the bike after initially getting back on. Which makes the fact that he lost only 40 seconds even more outstanding.
Or further proof that all of Sky are doping if you are one of the looney brigade.
Not only that, I reckon that the replacement bike had one of those engine jobbies hidden in that big fat down tube. Thomas would not be able to feel pain either with all those amphetamines and brandy that allegedly he had eaten at the feed station.
Matt Neal would have been proud of that move in the Touring cars!
I wonder what the French newspapers would have written if the roles were reversed, the Anglais had knocked a 5th placed French GC rider into a ditch. Would have been a avalanche of Sacrebleu!
When analysed by the cycling experts (bonjour M Jalabert) I believe the conclusion will be that the stash of EPO that Thomas keeps in his helmet for Froome cushioned the blow from that telegraph pole. Only conclusion that fits the facts...
Race or no race, if Barguil had any moral fibre he would have stopped to help fish Thomas out of the mountainside. It would have been the Right Thing To Do... unless you think that defending 11th place on GC is more important than life or death.
I absolutely agree. Whether it was recklessness or otherwise I would also expect Barguil to apologize to G.
He did.
If Oakley PR Dept. have got any sense, some new shades will be couriered to G (I know they don't make them anymore, but I bet they have a pair in their archive or something), also a good advert for Kask.
Just think though if he hadn't hit that telephgraph pole where he might of ended up?
Never mind the end of his tour, it could of been so much worse.
It is going to be so much harder now to pick G out without his sunglasses now
Most importantly, has he found his sunglasses?
These things happen - it's racing - but they all knew that this is a notoriously dangerous decent. Hard riding is fine but the riders have to look out for each other.
cheers balmybaldwin no proxy stuff on this pc
looks like made a deliberate decision to avoid the spectators - would have been a bit softer
For non UK residents in gif or mpeg
http://gfycat.com/GraveFlatCoati
Very lucky boy, and his post stage interview was excellent
Watching from behind seems to backup Barguil's assertion that his coming together with Tejay started it. However, why he came together with Tejay at all is another question. Reminds me of a clubmate who I swore never to descend near again (although he seems to have it sorted now).
G is nails. We knew that after he rode an entire tour with a broken pelvis. Now he has to pick himself up and attack to get the podium position he deserves.
What they call 'divebombing' in the trade. Improve your bike handling, Mr Bargueill.
Is there any on bike footage of the descent or crash?
Warren Barguil has to be the next World Cycle Speedway Champion; quick nip up the inside; large portion of elbow/shoulder and the opponent is out of the race (well nearly)!
Ouch! Very relieved he's OK, that could have been so nasty.
It looks like he was able to scrub off some speed and then take part of the impact with his shoulder.
Any news of the telegraph pole?
I bet he has a headache in the morning as if he had been drinking BRAINS all night. Being from south Wales I bet he's sunk a few pints of BRAINS in his time!!
"his helmet seeming to take much of the impact"
Careful. A number who frequent these boards will not be too willing to concede that one.
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