Geraint Thomas abandons Tour de France after crash
The Brit was in second place overall but crashed on the descent of the Col de la Biche
Team Sky's Geraint Thomas abandoned the Tour de France after a crash on the wet descent of the Col de la Biche today on stage nine.
Chris Froome will be down one helper trying to win his fourth title without Thomas, who is feared to have broken his right collarbone
Despite having won the opening time trial and won the yellow jersey, Thomas crashed four times in this Tour de France.
The Welshman also crashed in the Giro d'Italia this year on the ninth stage and abandoned five days later.
Thomas fell with 101 kilometres to race in the Tour's first big mountain day in the Alps. The stage had also seen other crashes with Astana riders, Jesús Herrada (Movistar), Rafal Majka (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo).
Froome named this stage as the most important day behind the Galibier stage and Izoard stage at the tail-end of the Tour de France.
He must continue without Thomas, who crashed on the Blockhaus stage of the Giro d'Italia due to a parked police motorbike and rebuilt for the Tour.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thomas crashed in stages two, four and eight, but escaped without serious injuries. The 31-year-old won the opening time trial of the Tour in Düsseldorf and held the yellow jersey until stage five.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
Knog Blinder 1300 review - excellent visibility for you and other road users
Solid performance, great mounting options and a respectable price point make the Blinder a great competitor for long nights this winter
By Joe Baker Published
-
Everything you want to know about the Q Factor
What it is and why it matters, how to measure it, what the Q stands for, and more
By Tyler Boucher Published
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've had a difficult year, I've had a difficult year' - Tom Pidcock hints at Ineos Grenadiers tension
Speaking at Rouleur Live, the 25-year-old also revealed that he hasn't enjoyed racing at the last two Tours de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers to partner with German development team for 2025
Ineos set to partner with German Continental squad Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as an official development partner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Where next for Ineos Grenadiers, now Steve Cummings has officially left?
After the Director of Racing's exit, the Tom Pidcock saga needs a final resolution before the team can move forward
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos' Director of Racing, Steve Cummings, confirms he is leaving the team after not attending a race since June
Announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding Cummings' position
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I never thought I'd really leave the team': Luke Rowe opens up on his reasons for departing Ineos Grenadiers
Welsh road captain is heading to Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale to become a sports director
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers announce 'highly motivated, hungry and ambitious' new performance structure for 2025
New sports directors, lead performance coach and head of performance support announced, among other changes
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I can help get the team back to where it was' - 20-year-old Artem Shmidt looks to the future after Ineos Grenadiers' disappointing season
Shmidt hoping to help revitalise team backed by Jim Ratcliffe after season of woes and as star rider Tom Pidcock gets set to move on
By Tom Thewlis Published