Sky jinx strikes as Geraint quits
TEAM Sky’s Giro d’Italia jinx has struck again with Geraint Thomas being forced to withdraw because of injuries.
Welsh wizard Thomas, who was coleading the team in a Grand Tour for the first time, crashed hard on Sunday when the rider in front of him collided with a police motorcycle.
His right shoulder popped out during the crash but was quickly put back in by the race doctor and he also damaged a knee.
He was lying in second place before the incident during stage nine but the accident saw him tumble out of contention.
Thomas did put in a strong time trial but then slipped further back in stages 11 and 12 before being pulled out when he was lying 15th in the general classification.
“I’ve been suffering since my crash on Sunday. I’ve had an issue with my shoulder which is manageable, but my knee has also been getting worse each day,” explained the 30-year-old.
“Obviously it’s never nice to leave a race early, especially when it’s your main goal of the season, but I have to look at the bigger picture.”
After his second place in the stage 10 time trial, Thomas said he was going to continue in the race with the stage 14 summit finish at Oropa to decide his future in the race.
However, with the pain increasing and having lost time on stages 11 and 12, Thomas has been sent home for more detailed medical tests to determine the extent of the knee problem.
It’s hoped Thomas will be given the green light to ride the Tour de France in support of Chris Froome, who is aiming for a third straight yellow winner’s jersey and fourth in all.
“I’ll turn my attention to the Tour now, and I want to arrive there with as good form as I started the Giro,” said Thomas. Thomas’ withdrawal continues Sky’s general classification misfortune at the Giro, which has seen the team lose its main rider for the third straight year.
Spaniard Mikel Landa, who was brought down along with Thomas and a host of other riders in last Sunday’s pile-up to ruin his chances in this year’s race, went out with a stomach bug 12 months ago.
Australia Richie Porte succumbed to crash injuries in 2015 while in 2013 then Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins abandoned the Giro because of illness after sliding down the GC standings. Rigoberto Uran still holds the best result for Team Sky, when he took second place behind Vincenzo Nibali after Wiggins quit.
Fernando Gaviria’s (Quick-Step Floors) incredible Grand Tour debut continued when he won his fourth stage and Colombia’s fifth of the Giro by producing a startling turn of speed to overhaul Ireland’s Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Belgium’s Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segfredo) during the finish of stage 13 in Tortona.
Dutchman Tom Dumoulin (Sunweb) finished safely in the peloton to retain the pink jersey as overall leader of the race.