Geraint Thomas has been forced to pull out of the Giro d’Italia after fracturing his pelvis in a crash.
The 34-year-old’s Ineos Grenadiers team took the decision ahead of Tuesday’s stage four in Sicily after further x-rays revealed the injury.
Thomas crashed heavily in the neutral zone on stage three after a loose water bottle was caught in his front wheel.
“It’s so frustrating. I’d put so much work in to this race,” said a devastated Thomas.
2020 you can just do one now🤬Thanks for all your well wishes though guys🙌😘 pic.twitter.com/UTm0JKs1Uz
— Geraint Thomas (@GeraintThomas86) October 6, 2020
“I did everything I could and feel like I was in just as good, if not better shape, than when I won the Tour. I was feeling really good. So for it just to end like this is gutting.
“I was really up for starting today. I woke up and wanted to start with the boys and at least help them go for stages over the next few days, but deep down I knew something wasn’t right, so we went to get these extra scans.
“It does make the decision easier when there’s a fracture in some ways, because obviously I don’t want to do anymore damage.”
Thomas finished the stage but came home on Mt Etna more than 12 minutes behind the winner.
He underwent x-rays having fallen heavily on his left hip, but results showed nothing was broken but would undergo further examinations on Tuesday.
Thomas’ team set-up his bike on rollers outside the team bus at the stage four start in Catania, suggesting he might start the stage.
But it was then confirmed that he would not start the stage with his race over.
INEOS Grenadiers Doctor Phil Riley said: “Geraint had an MRI and a CT scan this morning which revealed a small undisplaced fracture in the lower part of the pelvis which wasn’t picked up on the X-rays yesterday.
“As a precaution he will be withdrawn from the race as it’s an injury that could easily be aggravated.”
The news is a crushing blow for Thomas who was favourite for the maglia rosa to add a second Grand Tour title to his career cv.
Thomas had gone into the stage third overall but having taken time out of all his GC rivals on the opening time trial on Saturday.
And it is a cruel repeat of 2017 when his Giro hopes were ended by another bizarre crash when a fellow rider swerved to avoid a police motorbike that ha sparked on the side of the road.
The news will mark the end of Thomas’ 2020 campaign.