Team Sky's Wout Poels was on his way to win stage three of the Abu Dhabi Tour and the overall classification tomorrow when the race finishes in the United Arab Emirates's capital, but went too fast into the last corner at the top of the Jebel Hafeet summit finish and saw his bike slip from underneath him.
Colombian Esteban Chaves (Orica-GreenEdge), who led for most of the final kilometres, maintained his spot and continued for the win and red leader's jersey at 1,025m.
Poels picked himself up, with scrapes on his left side, and placed third behind Fabio Aru (Astana) at 12 seconds.
With a flat stage tomorrow on Abu Dhabi's Formula One circuit, Chaves should win the race overall.
The Dutchman who helped Chris Froome to his second Tour de France victory in July, yelled expletives a couple of times after the finish, but quickly regained his composer at the team’s car.
"I think it was the paint, I don't know," Poels said after looking at his scrapes.
"I felt I was flying, so I really fucked up because I would've won the stage and overall maybe.
"I knew it was a really sharp corner, but Chaves is not that slow so I thought that if I was first in the corner than I should normally win. You go fast in a climb, and in a corner, you don't brake."
Watch: Secrets of the toolbox - Orica-GreenEdge
Not easing off in the last 80 metres before a left-hand turn appeared to cost Poels. He slipped, which seemed to be on the white paint, and landed on his left side.
He raced for the stage win after catching Chaves in the last kilometre, right before the 11km climb descended briefly. He attacked on the slight uphill kick to the line and led into the final corner, which cost him dearly.
25-year-old Chaves, who won two stages in the Vuelta a España, looks ready to win the race overall tomorrow. However, he recognised Poels bad luck by not celebrating when he crossed the line.
"Astana attacked really early, they tried really early. My legs were almost over!" Chaves explained.
"Poels caught me, in the last corner he missed it and crashed. I didn't put my hands in the air because it wouldn’t have been correct for him."
-
-
New e-bike race series announced for 2022
E-Bike Grand Prix Series will start in 2022 in Dubai, and features ten rounds overall
By Ryan Dabbs •
-
James Shaw’s WorldTour return confirmed as he signs with EF Education-Nippo
The 25-year-old Brit suffered the disappointment of being dropped from the WorldTour in 2018, but he’s back next year
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Tim Kerrison set to leave Ineos Grenadiers amidst management change
The British WorldTour team parts ways with head coach behind Wiggins, Froome and Thomas' Grand Tour wins
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Sir Dave Brailsford to leave Ineos Grenadiers as Rod Ellingworth to take over team, according to report
Could there be a shake-up at the British WorldTour squad?
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Ineos Grenadiers signs record-breaking teenage star for 2022 season
The 19-year-old holds the junior 3km individual pursuit world record
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Ineos Grenadiers reveal Richard Carapaz's new 'golden' bike
The Olympic champion will be riding his new bike at the Vuelta a España
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
-
Here is the Ineos Grenadiers squad for the Vuelta a España 2021
Can Ineos topple Jumbo-Visma and Primož Roglič?
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Will Richard Carapaz ride the Vuelta a España 2021?
The Ineos Grenadiers rider is third overall in the Tour de France, but may already be looking ahead to his next goal
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Rohan Dennis to join Jumbo-Visma from Ineos Grenadiers, reports suggest
The Australian joined the British team two years ago but it looks like he is on his way out
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
-
Ineos Grenadiers will continue to ride Pinarello bikes after new contract extension
The British WorldTour squad have been on Pinarello bikes since their founding in 2010
By Alex Ballinger •
