Although not billed as one of the favourites heading into the World Championships team time trial on Sunday, Tinkoff-Saxo were still looking to post a competitive time and had sent a squad to do just that.

With the likes of three time individual time trial world champion Michael Rogers and all round powerhouse Peter Sagan taking the start the men in fluoro would have been hoping for a better result than that which they suffered in Richmond.

Crashing hard shortly before the second intermediate time split, Rogers and Michael Valgren both hit the deck and effectively ended the team’s chances. The time is taken on the fourth rider, and this spill left just three team members upright.

Taking to twitter to show their scars both riders look pretty bashed up by the crash.

Rogers apparently always usually wears gloves but sod’s law meant this happened on the one day he left them in the bus.

Valgren can be seen hitting the ground and skidding along, which caused the severe road rash shown in the photo tweeted by his team.

The TTT was later won by defending champions BMC who saw off Etixx – Quick-Step and a Movistar line-up that included British nation TT champion Alex Dowsett.

The championships continue this week and culminate in the individual races on Sunday. Britain’s Lizzie Armitstead is one of the favourites going into the women’s event and will be looking to add the rainbow jersey to her palmarès.