When the provisional overall standings were produced after Wednesday's Vuelta a Espana stage 17 three names were glaringly absent from the top ten: Robert Gesink (Rabobank), Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo Galicia)
and Tom Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream).
The trio had all been in the top ten prior to the stage - with Gesink in second place behind race leader Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) - but were involved in a nasty crash during Wednesday's stage to Talavera de la Reina. Up to 30 riders were involved in the incident.
For a moment, it looked as though they'd all either withdrawn from the race or lost so much time to have slipped out of the upper reaches of the overall standings completely. Confusion reigned.
Minutes later, a revised standing was produced by the race organisers with all three listed in their rightful place, much to the relief of the three riders' teams. They had all finished in the same time as stage winner Anthony Roux (Francaise des Jeux).
After over-night medical checks to assess their injuries, Gesink, Mosquera and Danielson will make the start line of Thursday's tough stage 18 to Avila.
Initial post-stage 17 overall results via official TV coverage feed had Gesink, Mosquera and Danielson missing...
...And then they re-appeared
Ezequiel Mosquera receives some attention from the race doctor
Robert Gesink had a deep cut to his left knee, but managed to finish the stage
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Latest news and features
Freire set for retirement in 2010
Unlucky Horner crashes out of Vuelta
Wegelius abandons the Vuelta
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Who will win?
Vinokourov back with Astana for the Vuelta
Britain and Ireland well represented in Vuelta
2009 Vuelta route favours climbers
Cycling Weekly's Rider Profiles: Index
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Stage reports
Stage 16: Greipel storms to third win
Stage 15: Boom solos to win
Stage 14: Valverde suffers but strengthens lead
Stage 13: Unlucky Evans loses time on rivals
Stage 12: Hesjedal wins second stage for Garmin
Stage 11: Farrar takes first grand tour victory
Stage 10: Gerrans takes breakaway victory
Stage nine: Cesar wins as Valverde leads in la Vuelta
Stage eight: Cunego takes first mountain stage of 2009 Vuelta
Stage seven: Cancellara outpaces Millar in TT
Stage six: Bozic surprises sprint rivals to take win
Stage five: Greipel wins again and takes race lead
Stage four: Greipel wins after big crash wipes out bunch
Stage three: Henderson wins stage
Stage two: Ciolek takes first road stage, Hammond third
Stage one: Cancellara wins Vuelta opener
Vuelta a Espana 2009: Photos
Stage 16 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 15 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 14 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 13 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 12 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 11 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage 10 photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage nine photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage eight photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage six photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage five photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage four photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage three photo gallery by Graham Watson
Stage two photo gallery by Graham WatsonStage one photo gallery by Graham Watson
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