Jos van Emden blames Alpecin-Fenix rider for causing mass pile-up on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
The Dutch time trial specialist broke seven ribs in the crash along with multiple other injuries
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Jos van Emden has blamed Alpecin-Fenix rider Gianni Vermeersch for causing him a mass pile-up early on stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia 2021
Van Emden (Jumbo-Visma) had to abandon the race with seven broken ribs, lung contusion and multiple cuts and bruises along with it.
Dutchman Van Emden was one of a large number of riders who went down just 3km into stage 15 from Grado to Gorizia, which resulted in the stage being neutralised just as riders were attacking to make the breakaway.
The crash also saw overall contender Emanuel Buchmann (Bora-Hansgrohe) abandon after suffering a concussion and cuts to his face. Joining them on the abandon list were Natnael Berhane (Cofidis) and Ruben Guerreiro (EF-Nippo).
>>> Mountain stage of Giro d'Italia 2021 changed due to cable car crash
Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Van Emden said: "Gianni Vermeersch just drove me off the bike. I had already addressed him once in the race about his dangerous riding behaviour. My team-mate Paul Martens saw it happen. Vermeersch suddenly moved to the left. He must have gotten stuck behind my rear wheel.
"I didn't have a chance, couldn't even touch my brakes, when you ride at 65kph or even faster, you bounce nicely on the ground. I already knew it was over when I was still in the air. I still had airtime, as they call it. The blow was enormous. They fell over me, which immediately made me short of breath and felt a terrible pain in my back."
Following the crash in the bunch, the race organisers were quick to stop the race to allow medical staff to attend to the injured riders. By the end of the stage, five riders had pulled out of the race.
Dutch time trial champion Van Emden would have been hoping to make it to Milan as he has history of winning on the final day of the Giro in the time trial, taking stage 21 of the 2017 Giro.
Vermeersch is riding his first-ever Grand Tour along with all but one of his team at this year's race with his team also making their three-week race debut too. The cyclo-cross rider managed fifth place on stage 10, which was won by Peter Sagan (Bora-Hansgrohe).
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Hi, I'm one of Cycling Weekly's content writers for the web team responsible for writing stories on racing, tech, updating evergreen pages as well as the weekly email newsletter. Proud Yorkshireman from the UK's answer to Flanders, Calderdale, go check out the cobbled climbs!
I started watching cycling back in 2010, before all the hype around London 2012 and Bradley Wiggins at the Tour de France. In fact, it was Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck's battle in the fog up the Tourmalet on stage 17 of the Tour de France.
It took me a few more years to get into the journalism side of things, but I had a good idea I wanted to get into cycling journalism by the end of year nine at school and started doing voluntary work soon after. This got me a chance to go to the London Six Days, Tour de Yorkshire and the Tour of Britain to name a few before eventually joining Eurosport's online team while I was at uni, where I studied journalism. Eurosport gave me the opportunity to work at the world championships in Harrogate back in the awful weather.
After various bar jobs, I managed to get my way into Cycling Weekly in late February of 2020 where I mostly write about racing and everything around that as it's what I specialise in but don't be surprised to see my name on other news stories.
When not writing stories for the site, I don't really switch off my cycling side as I watch every race that is televised as well as being a rider myself and a regular user of the game Pro Cycling Manager. Maybe too regular.
My bike is a well used Specialized Tarmac SL4 when out on my local roads back in West Yorkshire as well as in northern Hampshire with the hills and mountains being my preferred terrain.
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