Video: 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.