Geraint Thomas is being forced to ride through the pain barrier at the Tour de France after two painful crashes.

The Team Sky rider was caught up in the first major crash of the race on the opening staged which also involved team-mate and fellow Cardiff rider Luke Rowe and two-time champ Alberto Contador.

Thomas also went down later in the stage on Saturday when the stem of his bike hit him in the chest.

And though he is well used to pain having ridden all the 2013 Tour with a cracked pelvis, it has made for an uncomfortable start.

The 30-year-old admitted: “It’s still pretty sore to be honest and it will take a few days to get over but it should be all right.

“I landed on my stem and got a bruise from there and on my ribs, which I have taped up. It affects my breathing and when I’m getting out of the saddle, so when I cough or tense my stomach it hurts.

“But I’ve certainly had a lot worse,” he said stoically.

Team Sky boss Dave Brailsford, speaking to cyclingnews.com, added: “We didn’t think it had been fractured but it’s a muscular pain.

“He’s hurt his ribs quite badly in the crash the other day and it’s quite sore but he’s done pretty well and is there or thereabouts.

“He’s a tough guy.

“When the guys went into the barriers, he went into them and I think his stem hit him in the chest. He’s a tough guy, though, and if he can ride around with a fractured pelvis then he can ride around after a whack in the ribs.”