Viviani takes stage, Sagan defends lead, Thomas Crashes out of the Tour de Suisse

Italian Elia Viviani of Deceuninck-Quick Step, outsprinted Aussie Michael Matthews and Peter Sagan, who held on to the yellow jersey. Thomas crashes out.

Team Ineos were holding their breath Geraint Thomas's shoulder as he was rushed to hospital after crashing out heavily at the Tour de Suisse

The accident happened 30km from home on stage four with reigning Tour de France champion Thomas in a good position for overall victory in the nine-day Tour warm up in the Alps, but was left ashen-faced, dazed, badly grazed and nursing his right shoulder.

Ineos later reported that Thomas had "abrasions to his shoulder and a cut above his right eye," which were visible as he gazed into space sat on the road where he fell.

"He was part of a two-man crash," Ineos said after it appeared Thomas was brought down by Astana's Andrey Zeits, "There was a lot of road furniture about and a rider crashed in front of Geraint," Ineos sports director Gabriel Rasch said, "He got a little cut over his eyebrow which was bleeding. The doctor felt it was safest to take him to the hospital for further checks. We'll have to wait until they check him properly and then we’ll know more."   

Rasch suggested the tough Tour de France champion had wanted to get back in the saddle, "I think all riders are the same. They want to go back to the bike and race. But thankfully we have a doctor in the car and it's his decision to make."

Ineos described Thomas as clearly disappointed, but said he "was quickly sat up and speaking to team and race medical personnel at the roadside".

Even if the Welshman has not fractured his collarbone, the crash will severely hinder his chances of reaching peak fitness for a defence of his title starting on July 6.

The incident comes less than a week after his Ineos teammate, four-time Tour de France champion Froome broke a leg, hip, elbow and ribs in a horrific fall in the Criterium du Dauphine.

Team Ineos still have Colombian protege Egan Bernal in the running for victory here, he showed true class when winning Paris-Nice in March, and the 22-year-old all rounder is the bookies favourite for victory in France this July.

The Tour de Suisse continues with three mountainous stages and an individual time-trial still to go.

VIDEO: Tour de Suisse Stage 4 Highlights

Stage 4 Top 20 Results

1 Elia Viviani (Ita) Deceuninck-QuickStep 3:46:02
2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb
3 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
4 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott
5 Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
6 Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) EF Education First
7 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
8 Ivan Garcia (Spa) Bahrain-Merida
9 Stan Dewulf (Bel) Lotto Soudal
10 Fabian Lienhard (Swi) Switzerland

General classification after stage 4

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe 11:37:28
2 Michael Matthews (Aus) Team Sunweb 0:00:10
3 Kasper Asgreen (Den) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:15
4 Rohan Dennis (Aus) Bahrain-Merida 0:00:16
5 Lawson Craddock (USA) EF Education First 0:00:21
6 Stefan Küng (Swi) Groupama-FDJ 0:00:25
7 Matteo Trentin (Ita) Mitchelton-Scott 0:00:32
8 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:33
9 Jonathan Castroviejo (Spa) Team Ineos 0:00:34
10 Luis León Sanchez (Spa) Astana Pro Team