'It's the race that keeps giving': Geraint Thomas and Ineos Grenadiers forced to reset after Giro d'Italia crash
Tao Geoghegan Hart abandoned and Pavel Sivakov was hurt in incident that also involved Thomas and Primož Roglič


Ineos Grenadiers were in a solid position midway through stage 11 of the Giro d'Italia on Wednesday. The team had five riders inside the top 11, including Geraint Thomas in the race lead and Tao Geoghegan Hart in third place.
On the longest stage of the race, the squad were able to relax a bit, in the knowledge that the sprint teams - Trek-Segafredo and Bahrain-Victorious - were in control of the chase, and so, in theory, it was not a day to be worried.
However, with 69km to go, bad luck struck. As yet more inclement weather meant slippery roads as the race headed into Piedmont, the wheels of Alessandro Covi (UAE Team Emirates) gave way on a corner the descent from the Colla di Boasi. Behind him happened to be Thomas, Geoghegan Hart and Primož Roglič (Jumbo-Visma), the top three on general classification.
All four hit the deck, along with Pavel Sivakov (Ineos Grenadiers) and Koen Bouwman (Jumbo-Visma). Sivakov and Geoghegan Hart seemed to be the worst off, with the latter forced to abandon, leaving the race in an ambulance.
The day that looked so good earlier on Wednesday ended in if not disaster, then disappointment for Ineos Grenadiers. The team might still have three riders in the top 10 - Thomas, Thymen Arensman and Laurens De Plus - but it has lost Geoghegan Hart. The latter was set to act as the perfect foil for Thomas, and Sivakov has shipped almost 14 minutes, and the extent of his injuries is yet known.
For Thomas, who turns 37 next week, misfortune at the Giro is nothing new - he was forced to abandon in 2017 after being caught up in a collision with a motorbike, and was brought down in a neutralised zone in 2020, again forced to leave the race.
However, that will not make Wednesday any less galling, especially as Geoghegan Hart was looking in such good form. Ineos Grenadiers had already lost one rider, Filippo Ganna, who has headed home thanks to a Covid positive.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
"I don’t know exactly [what happened], I know the UAE guy went down first," Thomas told Eurosport/GCN post-race. "Luckily for me, I landed on him. Behind, it was chaos. Tao was badly hurt, and obviously went to hospital. I haven’t heard exactly how he is. Hopefully they’re all ok."
Sivakov crosses the finish line 14 minutes after the peloton on stage 11
"It’s the Giro, so much happens all the time, with the wet roads..." the Welshman continued. "It’s a big loss for us. But, we will try to focus straight away and concentrate on the rest of the race. There was another big crash at the end and I was lucky to avoid that as well. It’s the race that keeps on giving.
"It’s certainly a blow to lose Tao, obviously it changes the tactics in the big mountain days, but we will cross that bridge when we come to it. It’s taking each day as it comes, because as we’ve seen, it’s never straightforward."
Despite the dramatic crash and the impact it has caused, Thomas did not blame Covi for any role he had in the incident.
"Covi didn’t go out there to crash, it’s not his fault," he said. "These things happen, and it’s just unfortunate that he had the top three on GC behind him."
As for Ineos' plans for the rest of the race, there will need to be a change in approach. It is now no longer Roglič v Thomas and Geoghegan Hart, but simply Roglič v Thomas v the rest. It will be interesting to see how the pair match up in the mountain stages, later this week and in the final seven days.
Ineos Grenadiers still has numbers on the GC, something Roglič does not have, but the threat of Arensman and De Plus is not the same as Geoghegan Hart when it comes to attacks or putting riders in moves.
If Thomas is going to win this Giro, he is going to have to do it avoiding Covid and any more misfortune, as well as beating Roglič uphill. It will not be simple.
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

Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling, he's happy. Before joining CW in 2021 he spent two years writing for Procycling. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds.
Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to riding bikes.
-
How to watch the Amstel Gold Race 2025: Everything you need to live stream the Dutch Classic
All the broadcast information for the first of the Ardennes Classics on 20 April with Tom Pidcock – here's how to watch Amstel Gold Race online and on TV.
By Adam Becket
-
Can you make a living as an American domestic road racer? A look inside the part-time professionalism of the American road peloton
After decades of booms and busts, the American road scene finds itself in a fragile place. We spoke to riders to understand the reality of chasing the dream on home soil
By Logan Jones-Wilkins
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis
-
Extra wildcard team approved for Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España
Number of teams to increase from 22 to 23 at men's Grand Tours
By Tom Davidson
-
'I never really had a Plan B' - Dan Martin on his cycling career and getting into running after retirement
The two-time Tour de France stage winner takes part in Cycling Weekly’s Q&A
By Tom Thewlis
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart aims to 'be competitive, even in small races' as he starts 2025 under the radar
‘I think it's a little bit nonsensical to look past that and to start looking at big goals’ says 29-year-old Lidl-Trek rider as he explains he will start the year at the Volta ao Algarve
By Tom Thewlis
-
'He’s at the age now where he's coming into his prime' - Where does Tadej Pogačar go next after a year of unequalled domination?
Becoming the first male rider since 1987 to complete cycling’s hallowed triple crown earns the Slovenian this year’s prize. Tom Thewlis salutes a spectacular year
By Tom Thewlis
-
Giro d’Italia 2025 to start in Albania
Two road stages and an individual time trial to take place across three days of racing in Balkan country
By Tom Thewlis