Bennett and Froome tangle in Giro incident

Kiwi rider George Bennett was involved in a clash with Chris Froome on the eighth stage of the Giro d’Italia.

Froome, who came off his bike during a climb five kilometres from the finish, then barged into Bennett as he sought to fight back.

The Tour de France winner isn’t the greatest bike handler at the best of times,but was said to be ‘‘pedalling with a crazed, frantic cadence’’ prior to the collision, according to Eurosport.

It didn’t effect either rider with both ending up in a bunch finish on the eighth stage, seven seconds back from stage winner Richard Carapaz of Ecuador.

Bennett sits in 10th place through eight stages, one minute and 11 seconds back from tour leader Simon Yates.

Froome is just one second ahead of the Kiwi in ninth.

Carapaz, with his stage win, jumped ahead of the pair into eighth spot.

Froome’s participation at the Giro has come under increased scrutiny as he awaits the outcome of an investigation into his adverse analytical finding for the asthma drug salbutamol.

Bennett said prior to the opening stage that he would have not entered the race if he was in Froome’s position.

‘‘If I was in his position I wouldn’t be here. I would not do it. But technically he’s within his right,’’ he said.

‘‘I think that there needs to be a change of rule.

‘‘The fact is that this contro- versy can bring the sport down, can follow the race and take away from the race.

‘‘There needs to be a rule change so this doesn’t happen again.

‘‘Also we need some guarantee that it won’t be like Alberto Contador when he started before a verdict had been reached and then they took the Giro away from him after he won.’’