Motorbike wipes out Team Sky's GC ambitions at the Giro d'Italia
Geraint Thomas dislocates shoulder as team mates including Mikel Landa and Orica-Scott's Adam Yates hit the deck. GC ambitions for Thomas, Landa and Yates effectively over. Wilco Kelderman abandons.
Huge drama on stage 9 at the Giro d'Italia today, on the lower slopes of the fiercesome final climb of BlockHaus.
As the peloton increased the pace, riders bunched up wanting to stay near the front.
A police motorbike rider, who had pulled to the side of the road, clipped Team Sun Web's Wolco Kelderman who then set off a chain reaction of riders going down, mainly from Team Sky and Adam Yates.
Scene's after the crash showed the carnage as Landa scremed at the doctors to help Thomas who lied motionless, unable to move with a dislocated shoulder. Team Sky's doctor had to pop Thomas's arm back in the socket.
Thomas who was absolutely furious, managed to collect himself and continue on. Both Thomas and Landa clearly showing signs of the crash, with ripped jerseys, numbers hanging off and blood pooring from their forearms and elbows.
Yates was down but didn't seem to be hurt.
Team Sky's De Rosa dropped back to pace Thomas and Landa back up, but by the finish line Thomas was over 5 minutes behind on GC.
Orica-Scott's Adam Yates was over 4 minutes in arrears.
Thomas clearly voiced his shock and frustration by the crash. Geraint Thomas (Sky) said "It's ridiculous. That shouldn't happen. We were all racing to the bottom of the climb, and next thing I know someone hits a moto and we go down. My shoulder popped out as well. I felt good but then I crashed and that was it – race over."
Very dissapointed. Why they put there a police motor? F*cking dangerous. Didn't saw it coming. break the same finger again ??#giro100
— Wilco Kelderman (@W1lcokelderman) May 14, 2017
Wilco Kelderman Abandons
"Wilco Kelderman (NED) is forced to abandon the Giro d'Italia on its ninth stage, after a crash left him with a broken finger. The injury sustained is to the same finger as was broken earlier in the season following a crash at Strade Bianche.
Team physician Mannes Naeff (NED) gives more depth to Kelderman's injury: "Wilco has a complicated fracture on the index finger of his left hand, the same finger he fractured in his crash at Strade Bianche. Just as the last time he will need surgery once again. He will be operated on in the Netherlands, within a few days. After surgery he will need at least four to six weeks to recover."
Kelderman expressed his dismay after his abandon: "It is really frustrating to crash out like this. We were taking our position in front-left side and we needed to avoid the motor that was on the road. Tom just managed to go around the motobike but I clipped it with my handlebar. This is a big disappointment for me, I felt really strong and it's devastating to not have been able to help Tom some more with his great result today. So far the Giro has been really good for the team, there's a great atmosphere and spirit which is great to be a part of. I've worked really hard over the past few months to raise my level and it's really sad that I cannot continue to show this."
Team Sunweb coach Aike Visbeek (NED) continued: "Today is truly a day with mixed emotions. The team did a great job and both Wilco and Tom felt really good. The guys were taking their position at the front when Wilco crashed and immediately it was clear that his Giro was over. Its disappointing to loose him, he's an important rider both on and off the bike. We are here on a mission and we will deal with this in the most positive way that we can. We are obviously disappointed but we have a strong team that are all determined. Tom did a great ride today and showed his strength, our motivation continues and our team spirit remains strong."
2017 Giro d'Italia Stage 9 Top Ten Results
1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 3:44:51
2 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:24
3 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb
4 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:41
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:00
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:18
7 Tanel Kangert (Est) Astana Pro Team 0:02:02
8 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:02:14
9 Sébastien Reichenbach (Swi) FDJ 0:02:28
10 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:02:35
12. Bob Jungels (Lux) + 3.30
13. Tejay van Garderen (Usa) + 3.56
14. Adam Yates (Gbr) + 4.49
17. Geraint Thomas (Gbr) + 5.14
2017 Giro d'Italia General Classification after Stage 9
1 Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 42:06:09
2 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 0:00:28
3 Tom Dumoulin (Ned) Team Sunweb 0:00:30
4 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:51
5 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Bahrain-Merida 0:01:10
6 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:28
7 Ilnur Zakarin (Rus) Katusha-Alpecin 0:02:28
8 Davide Formolo (Ita) Cannondale-Drapac 0:02:45
9 Andrey Amador (CRc) Movistar Team 0:02:53
10 Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:03:06
VIDEO: Motorbike Crash on the lower slopes of BlockHaus
NO!!
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) May 14, 2017
Most of @TeamSky, including @GeraintThomas86, are taken out by a police motorbike ?? #Giro100 pic.twitter.com/iPJg7iXo4K