BRITAIN’S GERAINT THOMAS lashed out at Giro d’Italia race organisers Sunday after falling victim to a crash caused by a police motorbike and trailing across the finish over five minutes in arrears.
“I don’t know what to say, except it’s ridiculous,” said Thomas, whose shoulder “popped out” in the spill before the final climb to the summit finish of Blockhaus on stage nine.
Thomas began the 149km ride from Montenero di Bisaccia only six seconds behind overnight leader Bob Jungels of Quick Step.
The Welshman was firmly in contention as the peloton prepared to begin the 13.6km climb to the summit but saw his hopes dashed when a rider in front of him clipped a parked police motorcycle and brought Thomas and several others down.
Thomas, leading Sky’s pink jersey bid with Spanish teammate Mikel Landa, bravely got back on his bike to complete the stage but crossed the line five minutes behind stage winner and new race leader Nairo Quintana of Movistar.
He added: “We were all racing, then someone in front of me hits a motorbike. My shoulder popped out.
“I felt good but then I crashed, and my race was over.”
It is not the first time in recent years riders have suffered directly as a result of incidents with motorbikes involved in the race.
At last year’s Tour de France, organisers re-set the stage times for Australian Richie Porte, Britain’s Chris Froome and Dutchman Bauke Mollema after they crashed into a motorbike on Mont Ventoux.
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A very sick season os Soccer/ Football continues…
After all that it doesn’t even shoe the pen.
No surprise there, that competition makes most of its income from bribes. That’s the reason there are doubts over next year’s Copa America in the USA as most of the money already spent on it has been in bribes.
Feel bad for Panama but it’s the same deal with UEFA seeding play-offs at the last minute to those countries with a bigger TV audience make the big tournaments. Ireland know all about how bad that feels.
Shocking scenes it’s far more aggressive in Central American football I think.Watched Club America v San Jose last week and the Club American lads reacted to everything but horribly aggressively,they always seem to feel the need to put their hands on the opposition for any foul commited ,in fact after one tackle a San Jose player went down injured and the Club A captain raced from one side of the pitch to push him while he was down and was red carded.After the game a fan invaded the pitch and the San Jose mascot which was no more than 5’5 was escorting the man off behind police and a player shoved the mascot full force from behind despite the fan doing nothing to him/the game being over and his team had just won.Completely unnecessary and could see this last night too.More protection is needed for players/refs and fans from these sort of teams.On the other hand Jamaica are in the final which is pretty sweet!managed by the lad who managed Cameroon in the 2002 WC against us.
Ay caramba!
Anyone else think this was a stonewall penalty?
ya he pretty much dived on the ball
It’s like an anti-Thierry Henry incident.
More than enough time with all that going on to check a replay