Doom and gloom for Dumoulin

TOM DUMOULIN’S Giro d’italia challenge is all but over after the 2017 champion lost just over four minutes in a crash near the end of the fourth stage yesterday.

The Dutchman, one of the favourites to win the three-week race, hit the ground in a massive pile-up about 6km from the line in a 235km ride from Orbetello won by Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz.

Slovenian Primoz Roglic retained the overall leader’s pink jersey as the crash involving Dumoulin held up several overall contenders.

Team Sunweb rider Dumoulin (above), who started the day in fifth place in the general classification, crossed the finish line surrounded by his team mates, with blood dripping from his left knee.

“X-ray reveals no fracture for Tom Dumoulin,” his team said in a statement. Dumoulin, however, was unsure if he would be at the start of today’s fifth stage.

“There are no fractures, which is good, but my knee is very swollen,” he said.

“I wasn’t able to push any power in the last few kilometres so I don’t know how I will be tomorrow; the GC (general classification) is for sure gone.”

Among those held up were twice champion Vincenzo Nibali of Italy and Briton Simon

Yates, who limited the damage in losing 16 seconds to Roglic.