Chris pays price after recce crash

CHRIS FROOME admitted “it could have been worse” after he crashed during his recce of the Giro d’Italia’s opening stage.

Team Sky’s five-time Grand Tour winner was one of several riders to fall as they tested Jerusalem’s tight corners and rolling hills before the 9.7-kilometre time trial started.

But Froome got off lightly (above) compared to former team-mate Kanstantsin Siutsou of Belarus, who fractured his neck.

When racing started, Froome finished a disappointing 21st place, 37 seconds behind defending champion and yesterday’s stage winner Tom Dumoulin.

Froome said: “I’m all right and just grateful it wasn’t more serious – a few guys went down and some were pretty badly injured.”

Normally so solid against the clock, Froome rode like a man in pain, particularly in the twisty first half of the course, where he struggled to carry speed through corners.

Alex Dowsett was the best performing Brit of the day, the Essex rider finished fifth, just 15 seconds off the pace.

Magnus Cort Nielsen moved into the overall lead of the Tour de Yorkshire with victory on stage two at the summit outside Ilkley.

BMC’s Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet appeared to be battling fellow Belgian and defending champion Serge Pauwels for the win as the road ramped upwards, but Astana’s Cort Nielsen timed his move to perfection.