Phinney's terrible day sees Giro lead slip away

Taylor Phinney, Giro d'Italia 2012, stage 4 TTT

published 9 May 2012

Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing) lost the race lead at the Giro d'Italia today in Verona, Italy, at the end of a 33.2-kilometre team time trial. A crash, the same that involved Mark Cavendish (Sky) two days ago, sapped his strength and sprained his ankle.

"I just had like THE worst day on the bike today," he told Cycling Weekly. "I don't really know what that's from, if it's a combination of the ankle and trying to recover. I don't really know. I'm pretty sad to lose the jersey, especially in that way."

Phinney only found out in the small hours of Tuesday that he could continue in the Giro d'Italia. He took the race lead on Saturday in Herning, but crashed down and crossed the line in an ambulance on Monday. Due to the rules regarding crashes in the last three kilometres, he kept the jersey and enjoyed the podium presentation. However, he had to rush to travel back with the other Giro cyclists on a chartered flight to Verona and head straight to the hospital.

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Phinney's terrible day sees Giro lead slip away

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