It is not good to be a favorite in the Giro, let alone a member of the podium in the general classification. After Remco Evenepoel, leader devastated by Covid, after Alexandr Vlasov, 6th and forced to leave the Giro due to illness, it is the turn of Tao Geoghegan Hart, 3rd at the start of Camaiore (Tuscany) this Wednesday, to return home prematurely.
The Englishman from Ineos Grenadiers suffered a heavy crash during a transition stage that was thought to finally be relaxing for the peloton. The mess finally occurred in a descent 70 km from the finish. The 28-year-old, winner in 2020 of the Giro d'Italia, was caught in a collective fall also involving the pink jersey Geraint Thomas, the Frenchman Pavel Sivakov (8th) - two of his teammates - as well as the leader of the Jumbo Visma Primoz Roglic. These three were able to leave. Not Geoghegan Hart nailed to the ground and taken care of by an ambulance after a few minutes, a neck collar around his neck.
đ± Oh the fall in the peloton!
Several favorites involved! If Roglic and Thomas were able to leave, this is unfortunately not the case of Tao Geoghegan Hart, forced to retire.#Giro #LesRP pic.twitter.com/6t6erHMo7K
â Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) May 17, 2023
No sooner had the peloton come to its senses than another accident this time put Oscar Rodriguez (Movistar) down. Far more spectacular and just as traumatic. The Spanish climber lost control of his bike and came to hit a pole before ending up against the wall. He, too, was forced to give up.
