RT Geraint fights on after crash
GERAINT THOMAS recovered from a high-speed crash to limit his losses after the opening time-trial stage of the Criterium du Dauphine.
The Briton crashed on a right-hand bend on the 6.6km prologue in Valence, but finished just 21 seconds behind Team Sky teammate Michal Kwiatkowski.
The Pole, who was 28 on Saturday, crossed the line in seven minutes 25 seconds to win by a single second from Jos van Emden. Team Sky’s Gianni Moscon was two seconds back, in third.
Asked who was Team Sky’s leader in the absence of Giro d’Italia winner Chris Froome, Kwiatkowski said: “I know that Geraint can fight for the win. “Both of us, Geraint and myself, have come here to see how the shape is growing before the Tour de France and it’s of course my advantage to win the prologue, but the harder stages are at the end of the race. “There are some hard mountain finishes and a team time trial. We’re looking forward to race hard but at the moment I just want to enjoy this victory.” The week-long race is regarded as a good indicator of form ahead of July’s Tour de France. CHALLENGE CUP holders Hull surrendered the trophy they had held for two seasons after three costly sin-binnings helped St Helens into a semi-final showdown with Catalans.
Lee Radford’s Hull strained every sinew during an energysapping game yesterday but, not for the first time this season, they shot themselves in the foot.
Shortly before the half-hour mark, with Radford’s men leading 12-10, captain Danny Houghton and forward Danny Washbrook were shown yellow cards in quick succession.
Houghton was dispatched by referee Ben Thaler for a crusher tackle on Danny Richardson.
Washbrook followed suit after appearing to knee Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook in the face. As they trudged off the sun-kissed turf, Hull’s dreams of